Twin Rivers School District will utilize an online program to provide dual credit courses to students in the coming year.
The program has been used previously by the district for Spanish classes, according to discussion Thursday by the Board of Education. The school’s cost for the program will be $200 per student. The courses will be monitored by an in-room substitute.
Dual credit classes will also be offered for the 2022-2023 school year in the following subjects, Spanish I and II, anatomy, physics, physiology and band.
“We are still seeking to fill the position for next year,” said board member Billy Watson.
Explaining that this was a temporary solution to fill the current vacancies for subjects such as science, which they currently do not have an instructor for.
Principal Kimberly Lynn of St. Teresa’s Catholic School in Campbell attended the meeting to request sponsorship for her students to participate in sports activities with the Twin Rivers district.
St. Teresa’s serves elementary-age youth and would like for its middle school-age students to be part of certain Twin Rivers athletic teams.
The sponsorship was explained to be an agreement that allows two schools to join and participate in one or multiple sports.
“I’m coming here to ask that my students be allowed to participate so that they have an opportunity that we can’t provide them,” said Lynn. “I will fill out all the necessary paperwork, the sponsorship lasts one year and St. Teresa’s school will pay their own fees.”
“I am asking our students be allowed to play basketball, baseball, volleyball and softball, but only allowing students that will later be attending your high school,” said Lynn.
“How would you ever figure out which kids will be attending our high school?” asked one board member.
“It would have to be a good faith thing,” said Lynn, “Twenty percent of our students are in your district.”
“They would have to pay tuition to play sports,” said Watson.
“The educational guardianship is for educational purposes only,” said Kieth Parker, board president.
“Educational purposes only, no extracurriculars or anything, make sure they understand that,” said Watson.
There was no further discussion on the matter.
The school lunch program has seen changes due to the end of COVID relief funding, which assisted with meals during the pandemic.
Students’ meals will now be $1 a day for breakfast and $2 a day for lunch, adult meal prices will be $1.50 for breakfast and $3 for lunch. All families are encouraged to fill out paperwork to see if they qualify for free or reduced meal prices.
The board also discussed an after-school snack program called Life360.
The Life360 Community Service program states on its website that it works to enhance the well-being of the underserved and at-risk. Students will not be forced to take the snacks as they were required in the past, but the snack will be available to all students at all grade levels.
Clarification was made on conflicting wordage pertaining to leave policies for certified and non-certified staff. No changes were made to the current policy.
“All we’re trying to do is get everything on the same page,” said one board member.
Certified and non-certified employees will be given eight sick days and two personal days per year. Employees who work 11 months will be granted 11 days and 12-month employees will be eligible for 12 days of leave.
During the closed session the board approved newly hired personnel: Christina Miller, Fisk principal; Shelley Swift, interventionalist for Fisk and Qulin campus; Laura Keown, high school science; and Lisa Boyer, full-time high school substitute. Lisa Wilson has been approved as the assistant high school softball coach for fall only.
The next board meeting has been scheduled for 3 p.m., Aug. 16.