Good evening! Hope all is well and that you enjoyed the weather on Saturday! I got a lot of yard work done myself.
Last Thursday evening, the School Board held a Special Called meeting to approve a bus transportation contract. There were two proposals on the table the Board considered through the RFP process that began in January. The two applicants were Levy School Bus Company and First Student, Inc. Following a rigorous process of review, interviews, and analysis with both companies, the Board authorized the Administration to complete contract negotiations with Levy. The Board believes that Levy will step up and offer the improvements we were seeking through the RFP process. We have the month of April to complete negotiations of the contract.
The second proposal the School Board approved was hiring a Coordinator of Transportation. The position will bring inside several functions now provided by Levy Bus. The position will be the hub and interface between parents and Levy. It is a best practice recommended by the consultant who guided QCSD through the RFP and selection process, Wayne McCullough, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Business Officials. It is also a recommendation of the PA Auditor General’s Office to bring the position in-house to provide internal controls for the transportation system.
Two motions made on the floor of the meeting were to change the implementation of QCSD’s Health & Safety Plan - (1) which threshold number to follow for closing a school as a result of COVID positive cases, and (2) to adopt the Bucks County Department of Health Modified Quarantine Standards for close contacts. The Board passed the motion that directed the Administration to use the higher number of cases in the range to close a school. For example, to close our elementary schools and 6th Grade Center the number will move from two positive COVID cases in a rolling 14-day period to four positive cases. At Strayer Middle School the threshold number moves from four positive COVID cases to six cases. At Quakertown Community High School the number changes from six positive COVID cases to 10. This change is effective tomorrow, March 29th.
Modified Quarantine was the second motion made during the meeting. The Board approved the motion to adopt the Bucks County Department of Health’s Modified Quarantine for close contacts to our Health & Safety Plan. After an extensive discussion and considering the increased numbers in positive COVID cases in the district, county and state, not seen since January, the Board voted for implementation for Modified Quarantine on April 15th. The Board also said it will invite Dr. Damsker to the next School Board meeting and consider the current school district COVID positive data at the next meeting on April 8th to insure their decision is in the best interest of our community.
Thank you for reading and we look forward to your feedback. Again, please feel free to provide your thoughts at [email protected].
Have a good night.
Bill Harner
Superintendent
[email protected]
Twitter: @billharner