rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
CANTON — Canton Area School District voted for 2021 officers at their final 2020 meeting, virtually.
Judy Sourbeer will remain president of the school board and Bill Holland will be Vice President.
Superintendent’s report
Superintendent Dr. Eric Briggs began his report by mentioning the passing of James (Jim) McNaul. He said McNaul was a big asset to Canton School District.
Dr. Briggs also mentioned the COVID updates statewide, including an attestation ensuring implementation of mitigation efforts, a requirement by the state, which all school districts were to sign if they wanted to continue in-person instruction. The full document can be found at their website: www.canton.k12.pa.us.
As of Monday, The Department of Health recommends alternatives to 14-day quarantine, stating that after day 10, students can end quarantine without testing and if no symptoms have been reporting during daily monitoring. More information on this can also be found at their website: www.canton.k12.pa.us.
Thanksgiving break.
Students returned to in-person teaching on Monday, Dec. 7.
Autumn Alleman, a member service manager of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) spoke to honor board member Ryan Allen on his eight years of service on the school board.
District Business Manager Mark Jannone thanked TOPS in Canton at the meeting for donating all of the plastic bags to distribute school district meals in when students are in virtual mode.
Jannone also spoke about the new bill that provides funding for transportation.
“In order for the school district to receive reimbursement for 2021-22, you have to continue to pay contractors,” said Jannone to the board members.
“So the 30 day-thing that we had going on, is out the window. After 30 days, we are going to continue to pay (them) as we have been. That enables us to get the reimbursement.”
The amount to pay the contractors (bus companies) depends on how much they would receive had there not been a pandemic minus variable costs, determined by Pennsylvania Department of Education.
The board also discussed The Giving Tree committee and thanked those who were involved, such as Deanna Watkins and Stacey Segur.
The Canton Area School District Board of Education will meet again on Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. It is unknown at this time if it will be virtually.