The Knox School Board welcomed its two newest members, as more students returned for in-person learning. Newly-elected board members Mike Lord and Autumn Ferch took their oaths of office during Tuesday’s meeting, along with reelected members Kirk Bennett and Wendy McIntire.
Meanwhile, Gary Dulin was once again elected board president, after Bennett served in that position for the past two years. Mike Yankauskas takes over as vice-president, and Mary Lynn Ritchie was elected secretary.
Tuesday was also the first day of the second semester. High School Principal Glenn Barnes reported that 145 students were attending class virtually before Christmas break. Now, that number is down to 77. The number of virtual learners is down to 82 at the elementary school and 57 at the middle school.
As the Knox Community School Corporation’s COVID-19 response continues, Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart said it got another $10,000 in relief funding from the federal government. “We have spent a lot on PPE this year,” he said. “We continue to spend, and we don’t know when this pandemic’s going to end but everything we can get is appreciated.”
Corporation Treasurer Kasey Clark says the school corporation still has about $40,000 left from the first round of the CARES Act. Reichhart expects more money to come from the new federal stimulus package, but he doesn’t know how much.
