Board Update

The Reading Community City School District held a regular meeting on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. Here is an overview of the topics discussed. Board meetings are streamed and archived here.

Second Semester Return: Superintendent Jason Enix updated the Board on the return to full-time, in-person learning for the second semester. There is a lot of excitement among our students and teachers to be back to some type of “normalcy.” There is a buzz in the building like the first week of school, with new routines and procedures being established. Cafeteria procedures have been working smoothly.

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures: Traffic flow around arrival and dismissal has been challenging as students return. Thank you to parents, students, and staff for their patience as we work through this. We are working to keep traffic flowing and prevent back-ups on streets surrounding campus. RES, RMS and RHS are communicating directly to parents as adjustments are made.

Inclement Weather Plan: The district Inclement Weather Plan will be changing for the second semester to reflect the return to full-time, in-person learning. Options will include:

• In-School (M-F) Regular school day

• Two Hour Delay - RHS/RMS 9:20-2:10, RES 10:10-2:30

• Both in-person and remote students will follow this schedule

• Calamity Day - No School

If more than 3 Calamity Days are required, inclement weather days would switch to remote learning to meet state-required instructional hours.

School Board Recognition Month: January is School Board Recognition Month, and Superintendent Jason Enix thanked the Board for their service. Board President, Beth Wernery, Board Vice President, Alycia Bemmes, Board members Jim Perdue, Crystal Menner, and Amy Thamann were recognized for their commitment to the education of Reading students. “We salute the public servants of Reading Community City Schools whose dedication and civic responsibility make local control of public schools in our community possible,” Enix said. Thank you for volunteering your time and energy to make sure our schools are providing the best education possible.

District Financial Planning: Superintendent Jason Enix presented a proposed timeline around a possible levy campaign. This will allow the Board to begin the discussion around a potential November 2021 levy request. Additional information can be found in the Superintendent Report here.

Board Mission and Vision: The Board approved the Vision and Mission and Belief Statements as follows:

Mission: The Reading Community City School District strives to provide excellence in education that inspires and empowers our leaders of tomorrow.

Vision: The primary responsibility of the Reading Board of Education is to establish purpose, programs and procedures which produce the education achievement needed by District students. The Board goals include the following:

• Adopt Board policies to best serve our students to become life-long learners;

• Provide the Superintendent and Treasurer/CFO with sufficient and adequate guidelines for implementing Board policies;

• Guide the Superintendent and Treasurer/CFO with adequate information and expectations to make fiscally responsible decisions;

• Maintain effective communication with the community, staff and students;

• Conduct Board business openly, encouraging involvement in the decision-making process by the public, students and staff.

Belief Statements:

1. We will agree to always put students' interest first.

2. We will respect the confidentiality of privileged information.

3. We will share our views respectfully working for consensus and will abide by the major decision of the Board.

4. We will make no personal promises nor or take private action that might compromise the Board or administration.

5. We will represent all school district constituents honestly and equally, refusing to surrender our responsibilities to special interest or partisan political groups.

6. We will actively listen to the constituents who address us personally but then follow the "Chain of Command" identified in Board policy.

7. We will respect and foster relationships with all members of the Board while recognizing each member's strength and diversity.

8. We will be fair, just, and impartial and base our decisions on fact rather than supposition, opinions, or public favor.

9. We will strive for a positive working relationship with the superintendent and treasurer/CFO, honoring their respective authority to advise the Board, implement board policy and administer the district.

Upcoming Board Meeting: The Board will hold a work session on Wednesday, February 3 at 5:30 pm. At this meeting, Superintendent Jason Enix will deliver his State of the District update and plans to present a draft of the RCCSD Strategic Plan, which has been the subject of community input and work over the last 2 and a half months.

Bullying Report: The Board accepted the first semester bullying report. This is a requirement of the state. It can be viewed here.

Hilltop Bidding Process: The following schedule was presented for the work on the Hilltop Athletic Fields Project.