CHENEY – Citing unprecedented times, the Cheney School District board of directors unanimously approved a resolution at their March 25 meeting suspending “provisions of and/or entire board polices” and administrative procedures and allowing Superintendent Rob Roettger to implement mandates and directives from the state and federal government as needed to respond to the spread of COVID-19.
The board further authorized Roettger, to the extension such authorization existed or did not exist “directly or by implication,” to take action to manage or close school facilities, direct or redirect employees, their job assignments or duties and permit or restrict access to school grounds and buildings as deemed to be in the best interest of the district or even larger community. The resolution did stipulate that action regarding employees must be “to the extent necessary or practical” and in consultation with their respective union leadership.
The resolution allows Roettger, or someone designated to act in his place, to rent or lease school buses to government agencies for transportation of people or goods. It also suspends the requirement to obtain competitive bids in the purchase of supplies and services in instances where doing so would subject the public interest or property to “likely suffer immediate material injury or damage in absence of prompt remedial action.”
Finally, the resolution “encourages” the public to take part in meetings via live streaming on television and/or the internet and restricts public input to written comments.
Through all this, Roettger and district staff are to keep the board abreast of all developments and actions falling under these conditions.
Assistant Superintendent Tom Arlt told the board the resolution was needed to address national and statewide emergencies declared to address the spread of the coronavirus and the disease it carries, COVID-19. The district is making almost daily decisions when it comes to how to continue instruction, comply with graduation requirements and other polices while also following state-mandated requirements to provide meals and drop-in care services for health care workers and first responders.
Many of these changes require decisions within hours of implementation, and would to either be rescinded in the future or quickly based on new and additional guidance.
“That’s really what this resolution is about is not having to make policy changes every 24-48 hours and allowing us to function and maintain that safety and provide all those mandates that are constantly changing on a daily basis,” Arlt said.
The board had no questions regarding the resolution after it was presented, and no discussion after it was moved and seconded. The board voted 5-0 to approve it.
“All the trust in the world for you guys,” board president Stacy Nicol said after the vote. “No qualms about that.”
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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