School Board talks New Year, COVID Rules

The Malta School Board of Trustees met Monday, August 9, for their last monthly meeting before the school year gets started on August 25.

Of all of the action items on the agenda that night, one of the most interesting to students and families for the coming year is the COVID-19 rules that will be put in place.

Malta Superintendent Matt Genger said, “This is going to be a very fluid situation throughout the year.”

As for the beginning of the year, “Everybody who rides the bus to Malta public schools will have the opportunity to wear a mask.” Genger said.

The same can be said for in the classrooms. There will be masks available if a student wishes to wear one.

Other common sense things will be done to aid in not spreading the virus, such as how the rooms are set up for seating, having sanitizing stations set up for use, and how things will be done in the cafeteria.

At extracurricular events, attendance will not be limited at this time. Separate seating for visiting teams will be put in place on an event basis. Traveling teams will follow the rules and protocols of the town that they are going to.

High School Principal Shawn Bleth said, “We are just trying to do some of the common sense things that cause the least amount of disruption at this point and time and it will be re-evaluated as the year goes on.”

The schools will be working with the County Health Department. COVID guidelines will be an agenda item at every school board meeting and changes will be made depending on what is going on in the community.

The current protocols will be mailed out and can be found on the school website.

The board also approved the 2020-21 financial summary and adopted the 2021-22 budget as given to them in a presentation by Jane Knudsen.

The new budget has an increase of only $5,000 over last years.

Knudsen said, “I know I say this every year, but the budget is tight.”

Knudsen informed the board that although the 2020-21 year had stayed within the budget, some of that can be attributed to the help of the ESSER money, and that money will not be guaranteed to be available in the future. So be aware of that when considering future projects and purchases.

The board also addressed the shortage of some teachers and other school-related jobs.

The list of jobs needed to be filled can be found on the school’s website.

One of the biggest needs is that of school bus drivers. The school is looking for at least three drivers. If you or someone you know could drive a bus, call the school for the information needed.

For the committee and administration reports part of the meeting, Patrick Sargent gave the transportation report. He updated the board on all of the upkeep and maintenance that had been done on the busses to get ready for the school year.

Middle School Principal Kelly Sederberg informed the board that August 18 will be the first day of middle school volleyball and football practice.

There will be an open house from 5-7 on August 24 for parents and students to come in and meet the teachers.

Sederberg also informed the board that there is a total of 104 students enrolled in middle school. 34 in sixth grade, 30 in seventh grade, and 40 in eighth grade.

High School Principal Shawn Bleth told the board that cross-country practice will start on Friday, August 13, and volleyball and football practice will start on Monday, August 16.

Bleth said that enrollment for high school is up a little bit from last year.

Bleth also informed the board that the credit recovery program that was tried this past summer had six students in it and that three of the students had successfully recovered the credits that they hadn’t passed during the last semester.

“It wasn’t easy, by any means, but we had three that stuck it out and got it done,” Bleth said.

The next Malta School Board Meeting will be on Wednesday, September 8, at 7:00 p.m.