LAPEL — As it had discussed initially at a November 2019 meeting of the Frankton-Lapel Community School Board of Trustees, Lapel schools — as Frankton schools established during the 2019-20 school year — will implement a rule that students will not be able to carry backpacks into the school unless they are clear.
The board passed a school safety section and other student handbook updates — even as many uncertainties exist because of COVID-19 — at its most recent meeting, held June 11 at the Administrative Office.
The clear backpack rule was put into place last school year at Frankton’s schools after a threatening message was written in one of the school’s bathrooms.
Dates approved
The board approved dates for new student registration, by appointment, and dates for Chromebook laptop pickup.
At Lapel High School, new student registration appointments can be set for the bookstore on Aug. 5 from noon to 8 p.m. and Aug. 6 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chromebook pickup for high school students is Aug. 5 from noon to 8 p.m.
At Lapel Middle School, new student registration appointments can be scheduled for Aug. 4 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Aug. 5-6 from noon to 8 p.m. both days. Chromebook pickup is slated for noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 6.
When asked about a plan for Chromebook pickup if school is not back to a traditional style of education because of COVID-19, Superintendent Bobby Fields said, “If we can go back as normal, we’ll just pass them out (as scheduled). If we are on some kind of elearning program again, we will have a drive-through type method, just like we did when we collected them at the end of the year.
“Hopefully, we’ll be handing them out in school.”
Lunch price increases
Fields said lunch prices, to stay in good standing with the Federal Lunch Program, will have slight increases for the 2020-21 school year.
For full-price lunches for elementary students the price will be $2.55 this school year, up from $2.45 previously. For junior high and high school students, the increase is also 10 cents, up to $2.70.
Field trip approved
The board approved an out-of-state field trip to Universal Studios in Orlando for the Lapel High School Band.
The trip is scheduled from March 11-15, 2021.
“Obviously, if things are not suitable to go because of the pandemic or other reasons, then they would not go,” Fields said. “I would recommend we approve this trip so they can do their fundraising to be able to go on the trip.”
Graduation gets good reviews
Lapel High School principal John Willis thanked the school board, Fields and Assistant Superintendent Sterling Boles for permitting an in-person graduation for seniors.
An in-person graduation, abiding COVID-19 pandemic social distancing recommendations, took place on May 31.
“It was so well-received,” Willis said. “We did curbside delivery for supplements of yearbooks (Thursday). Seniors and parents drove through, and they were nothing but complementary of what happened. Even a teacher from another school corporation said they were so impressed with what we did and that the school board was able let that happen.
School board president Mike Rusche, who along with board member Brian Gill attended the ceremony, told Willis, “I think I can speak for everyone here, you guys knocked it out of the park. The planning you did, everything was amazing.”
Personnel
The board approved Alicia Bays to be cheerleading coach/sponsor at Lapel High School.
Next meeting
All board members were in attendance either on site or via conference call. The next board meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. July 9 at district administration office.