Union Public Schools - District News

Board Update/Closing out 2020

Superintendent Dr. Kirt Hartzler thanked Board Member Jeff Bennett for 14 years of service, as Bennett has decided not to run for the Zone 1 seat again. “Jeff is our longest-running board member, and we deeply appreciate his service to our district,” said Hartzler. “We will do more to recognize and thank him at a later date.”

Kasey Magness and Joey Reyes have registered to run for Zone 1, and that election will take place on April 6. “Also, on Nov. 30, we accepted the resignation of Lisa Ford for Zone 2,” said Hartzler. “The Board will start interviews to fill the remainder of her term on January 4 and 11. We have eight patrons who have expressed an interest in filling that board seat. We appreciate Lisa’s service the last four years.”

In closing out 2020, Hartzler said, “Thanks to our board members, administrators, parents and students for getting us through this first semester. We sometimes lose sight of the fact that we have really had a terrific first semester. Our secondary students successfully conducted in-person school for 15 of 18 weeks, and our elementary students made it for 16 weeks.

“It’s not been easy by any stretch of the imagination,” said Hartzler. “We are planning on being back on at school in-person on Monday, January 4. We will be sending out a letter to parents to let them know this expectation. In the meantime, we ask that everyone please adhere to safety protocols by masking up, practicing social distancing, handwashing and avoiding large groups.

“Thanks to all, we’ve made it through the first semester. We know a vaccine is in the queue, and there is reason for hope, but it’s going to take some time before we are fully back to normal. So, let’s be mindful of that and do what we are supposed to do as individuals. I wish everyone a safe holiday season. We need everyone back safely and ready for school on January 4, 2021. We look forward to it!”

Board approves 2021 meeting dates

The Board approved its calendar of meeting dates for 2021, which is generally the second Monday of each month. The Board will meet at 7 p.m. on the following dates:

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 (MLK Holiday – Monday, January 18, 2021)
Monday, February 8, 2021
Monday, March 8, 2021
Monday, April 19, 2021
Monday, May 10, 2021
Monday, June 14, 2021
Monday, July 12, 2021
Monday, August 9, 2021
Monday, September 13, 2021
Monday, October 11, 2021
Monday, November 8, 2021
Monday, December 13, 2021

Board Approves Policy Revisions

The Board of Education on second reading approved various board policy revisions, which may be viewed here. The Board first considered revisions during a first reading on November 9. The district received no feedback from the public, and all were unanimously approved by the board.

The policy changes are as follows:

Policy 5003/Homeless Students: A new policy to be enacted to show compliance with the McKinney-Vento Act addressing homeless students.

Policy 5048/Complaint Procedures for Federal Program: A new policy that addresses how complaints should be filed with Union’s Federal Programs department.

Policy 5508/Virtual Education: This policy (formerly Internet-Based Education) has been rewritten to address changes in virtual education and how it is administered.

Policy 5032/Weighted Grade and Class Ranking Procedures: Changes include language clean-up and how requests for adding courses can be made.

Policy 1005/Parent Booster Club/PTA Sanctioning: Change in the way notifications are provided.

Policy 1103/Student Records: Change to include electronic storage of records in cumulative folder, as well as changes concerning immunization records and transcripts.

Policy 1600/Technology Utilization: Changes regarding the use of district-owned computers for personal use in the interest of encouraging computer literacy, as well changes in the stewardship of assigned devices.

Policy 1601/Internet Acceptable Use: Changes about downloading software and identity using district-issued devices/networks, as well as the use of devices for personal hotspots, high demand internet times and so forth.

Policy 1602/Network, Physical and Internet Security: Deletions of extraneous verbiage and changes to user responsibility.

Policy 1604/Passwords: Changes in the way passwords can be used.

Policy 1651/Electronic Communications: Changes about how email hyperlinks can be accessed.

Board Approves Extended Day Program Refunds for Parents

The Board of Education approved a request to allow for December refunds for families enrolled in the Extended Day Program (EDP). With the move to distance learning on December 4 because of COVID-19, EDP refunds need to made for parents for the month of December and any other payments that resulted in a credit.

In other action, the Board

Accepted the 2018-2019 annual audit report by RSM US, LLP.
Approved the 2020-2021 Early Retirement Incentive program for certified employees, which will help the district save more than $540,000. Whereas the ERI program is designed for savings over a two-year period, the cost to fund the 2020-2021 program for certified personnel is $3,803,402.
Accepted a bid of $96,417 from Banning Contracting Services for a district access control project. This project will provide for new electronic access to the elementary schools at their respective front entrances. The change will allow Union to better control who has access and when the access will be granted to the building, explained Fred Isaacs, director of Construction Services.
Approved the purchase of four video security servers from Digi for $87,196.
Approved the purchase of maintenance and support renewals of all Fortinet applications owned by Union for a cost of $56,028 – affecting Union’s phone and Internet systems.