Smith Center board authorizes Greenbush membership, summer maintenance and remote learning for students exceeding 40 hours

At its Feb. 14 meeting, the USD 237 Board of Education authorized a virtual membership with Greenbush for school-improvement and administrative supports, instructed staff to solicit bids for routine summer maintenance projects, and, following an executive session on student matters, approved remote learning for students who exceeded 40 hours.

Superintendent Dustin McEwen said he had been attending Greenbush Zoom sessions and described supports for principals and clerks; he told the board the annual membership fee could be paid with ESSER funds. Jessica Weltmer moved to approve the membership, and the motion carried 7-0.

McEwen and district maintenance staff member A.J. Kuhlmann outlined routine summer projects and identified several items to begin seeking bids for; the board directed administration to proceed with selected bids and projects.

The board held multiple executive-session segments for personnel and student matters and repeatedly invited Superintendent McEwen to remain. After the executive-session discussion of student matters, the board approved remote learning for students who exceeded 40 hours on a motion by Marty Hanson, seconded by Steve Overmiller; the motion passed 7-0.

No open-session personnel actions were recorded as taken; the meeting concluded with no additional board comments and an adjournment at 9:59 p.m.