BY MICHELLE KEY
PUBLISHER
The Opelika City School Board held its reqularly scheduled board meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
During the meeting, the board voted to give employees that are required to quarantine due to COVID-19 up to 10 days of paid leave during the 2021-22 school year.
This policy was in effect during the previous school year and Superintendent Dr. Mark Neighbors explained why it was implemented last year.
“Particularly some of the young teachers don’t have any sick leave [accrued] so they were starting to get docked,” Neighbors said. “It has been very well received by our folks.”
Neigbors added that it does not really add any additonal cost to the budget to provide that to the employees.
Other Business:
• The board voted to approve several personnel recommendations.
• The board voted to approve an amendment for the budget for the 2021 fiscal year.
• The board approved a new Agriscience textbook for grades 9 through 12.
• The board approved a five-year capital plan budget totalling $23,379,350.
• The board approved a bid for upgrading the lighting system at the Opelika Center for the Performing Arts (OPAC) located at Opelika High School.
• The board approved an out-of-state field trip for Opelika High School’s FFA organization.
• The board voted to approve the renewal of the Alabama Trust for Boards of Education (ATBE) general liability and errors and omissions liability insurance coverage.
• Chris Harrison delivered a summary of the July finanical statements to the board.
• The monthly Child Nutrition reports was reviewed by the board.
• Budget meetings for the 2022-23 school year were set for Monday, Sept. 13 from 4 to 6 p.m. and for Tuesday Sept. 14 from 2 to 4:30 p.m.
The regular school board meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. following the budget meeting on Sept. 14.
Meetings are held at the central office located at 300 Simmons St. in Opelika.