Virtual Board of Education Meeting

The Moon Area Board of Education held its September 29, 2020 virtual workshop meeting, called to order by the president, with eight directors present and the superintendent presiding. The board approved bills for payment for the period September 11 to 24, 2020, and approved Resolution 2020-10 for the Series 2020A bond issue. It accepted a settlement and release agreement with a student, approved a change to the existing Hyde Playground purchase, and accepted two donations for the Hyde Playground project—one from Delta Development Group and one from the Hyde PTO via Moe's Southwest Grill. The board approved substitute rates of pay, virtual field trips for the 2020-2021 school year, and a personnel package that included tenure for five employees, a special education assistant hire, cyber teacher extra pay, several medical and FFCRA leaves of absence, a fall coach, student athletic trainers, a pre-student teacher, and a resignation. Item 1 of the personnel agenda was tabled in a split vote, with three directors voting against.

The board heard the superintendent's report, which introduced a new assistant superintendent starting October 12, focusing on curriculum, and outlined a return-to-school plan targeting October 26 for grades 7-12. Four candidates spoke to fill a board vacancy. A contentious dispute erupted when a question was leaked to one candidate during executive session; one director demanded the responsible board member resign, triggering accusations against two other board members and a discussion of a February 2019 Democratic ticket that had left a director off. The board announced a special meeting next week to establish a fair process for filling the vacancy, with a public vote anticipated within 30 days. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 pm.