Upper Adams School District (UASD) school board continues to monitor COVID-19 information and ensure district-wide quality Tuesday.
As officials continue to monitor cases throughout the school district, positive case rates have bumped up slightly, according to Superintendent Wesley Doll.
As of Tuesday, there were 25 individuals in quarantine and 12 positive cases, he said.
Information about school district positive cases and quarantines can continue to be found on the district website at https://www.upperadams.org/upperadams
Decisions are under way at the court level regarding mask mandates, according to Superintendent Wesley Doll.
The school district is still awaiting more information as recent information suggests the possibility of a state judge lifting the mandate in December, he said.
“We’re still waiting to get more information, but as we get more information about that we will definitely communicate that with our school community,” Doll said.
The school district was excited to welcome its first student forum since pre COVID-19.
“It’s not the same when you’re doing it remotely,” Doll said.
The forum saw about 21 students from grades seven through 12 with about three representatives from each grade level, according to Doll.
The student forum discussed the impacts of the pandemic and in particular the topic of mental health and the challenges of returning to school, he said.
An additional councilor at each of the school district’s campuses is “helping out tremendously meeting with students that may have mental health related challenges,” Doll said.
Ensuring a safe educational space for all students, UASD and Aramark continue their sanitation dedication this year.
A detailed presentation of Aramark projects continuing through the sanitized school year was presented by Facilities Director Christopher McMahon.
McMahon credited the district’s dedication to proactive efforts, “We hit things before they become a real issue hopefully, and it’s been a real team effort,” he said.
Aramark employees are trained in proper cleaning and disinfecting techniques and work with staff to “provide specific disinfecting, sanitizing and cleaning areas of concern,” he said.
“The district has been well served by having a partnership with Aramark over the past six years,” Board President Tom Wilson said.
McMahon’s presentation also included detailed photos of the work orders completed by contractors including electrical, plumbing, and mulching.
Over 80-man hours went into completing new pads for the field hockey bleachers, funded through a generous donation through Carol Reaper and the Link Family Foundation.
The estimated savings of the bleachers to the school district is over $8,000, he said.
36 trees were also recently planted at the Intermediate School as part of Gettysburg Green Gathering with about 40 teachers and community members assisting, accoridng to School Board Treasurer Susan Crouse.
It was also noted, $24,000 dollars was raised by the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) to go towards field trips, assemblies, and special events, according to Wilson.
“That is not an insignificant amount of money raised by a PTO, so congrats to them,” he said.
A Letter of Recognition was presented to school board member Ed Ponce, whose term ends in December. Ponce served on the board since 2017 with distinction and dedication to the community as well as Student Activities Chairperson.
“Whereas your diligence, skill and performance being exemplary have brought honor to you, the school district and the community,” Wilson said.
A reorganization meeting will be held before the next school board meeting Dec. 7. at 6:30 p.m.
The school district solicitor will lead nominations for the next board president and vice president elections with an interim president to be selected.
A.L. Grabenstein, reporter, is a graduate of Philadelphia's La Salle University with a B.A in Communication and has been a journalist since 2016. She has reported for the Gettysburg Times and the Times Herald in Norristown, PA. Grabenstein moved to Gettysburg from Montgomery County in 2019. She was born in San Antonio, TX., and previously lived in Virginia, and North Carolina. Grabenstein is actively involved in the borough of Gettysburg and loves giving voices to the local community.