Okaloosa County School Board — Special Meeting, March 30, 2020 — reading text

Superintendent Meeting : Mar 30, 2020 - Special Meeting Type : Action Preferred Date : Mar 30, 2020 Absolute Date : Mar 30, 2020 Recommended Action : Motion to approve School Board Policy 01-27 Emergency Policy Relating To School Board Meetings. Public Content This Emergency Policy 1-27 modifies and supersedes portions of School Board Policy Chapter 1 on School Board meetings. This policy is consistent with Florida Department of Education directives, Executive Orders of the Governor and Florida laws to address items during this time of public health emergency and hold virtual or telephonic meetings where a quorum of School Board members is not required to be physically present at the meeting in order to conduct a vote upon business. The procedures to adopt this emergency policy are fair as Executive Order 20-69 providing authority to hold virtual meetings was issued March 20, 2020 and the next School Board meeting at which this emergency policy can be considered is scheduled for March 30, 2020. The Notice of Intent to Adopt a Proposed Emergency Rule will be published in the newspaper as soon as possible, is being distributed for posting March 24, 2020 and is being made accessible to the public via the School Board’s online School Board meeting agenda site together with the full text of the proposed emergency rule. The Superintendent finds that there is an imminent danger and a need to protect the public health, safety and welfare for the reasons listed below: 1. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among humans through respiratory transmission and presents with symptoms similar to those of influenza. 2. On March 1, 2020, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-51 which establishes COVID-19 Response Protocol and Directs Public Health Emergency. 3. On March 9, 2020 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-52 declaring a state of emergency for the entire State of Florida as a result of COVID-19. 4. The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a Pandemic on March 12, 2020.  5. The President of the United States of America declared a National Health Emergency due to COVID-19 on March 13, 2020. 6. On March 20, 2020 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-69 providing authority to conduct governmental public meetings by use of communications media technology, such as telephonic and video conferencing. 7. A number of cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Okaloosa County. Thus, it is necessary and appropriate to take action to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the School District of Okaloosa County, Florida, students and personnel and to mitigate against substantial loss to the District. This emergency policy allows the School Board to meet virtually to deal with items during this time. File Attachments Policy 01-27 Emergency Policy Relating to School Board Meetings.pdf (186 KB) Notice of Intent to Adopt a Proposed Emergency Rule - Policy 01-27.pdf (116 KB) Motion & Voting Motion to approve School Board Policy 01-27 Emergency Policy Relating To School Board Meetings. Motion by Diane Kelley, second by Dewey Destin. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yes: Tim Bryant, Dewey Destin, Linda Evanchyk, Diane Kelley, Lamar White 5. Adjournment Subject : 5.1 Adjournment of the meeting by the Chairman Meeting : Mar 30, 2020 - Special Meeting Type : Procedural 6. Public Notice Subject : 6.1 Public Notice Meeting : Mar 30, 2020 - Special Meeting Type : Information Public Content This meeting is open to the press and public. Any person requiring special accommodations at this meeting because of a disability or physical impairment should contact the Superintendent at the School District Central Administration Building at (850) 689-7185 prior to the meeting. File Attachments 3-30-2020 Special Meeting.pdf (110 KB)