Schuler Speaks to IHSA Board, ISBE Board Monday and Tuesday

Cowden-Herrick Superintendent of Schools Seth Schuler has been getting plenty of drive time the past two days, pleading the case for his district regarding whether to require masking in schools.

Schuler spoke to the Illinois High School Association Board on Monday, then was one of about a dozen superintendents who spoke to the Illinois State Board of Education on Tuesday.

Schuler's remarks to the IHSA Board argued that they shouldn't be disqualified from competing in post-season competition yet. He said their district won't be disqualified until the end of October, so they are still recognized by the ISBE. The IHSA guidelines are that a district has to be recognized to compete in post-season. He also contended that the date for their disqualification should be the date that post-season competition begins, not when the seeding for the event is completed.

Schuler said the IHSA Board, however, rejected both of his arguments.

The presentation to the ISBE Tuesday was to argue the loss of local control, something that is the subject of an editorial released by a large group of area superintendents today. That editorial appears in another post on the local news page.

The Cowden-Herrick Board of Education at this month's meeting voted to allow non-resident employees' children to attend the District at less than 110% of per capita tuition, as a means of attracting teachers to the district. The Board also updated the Back to School Plan so that COVID-related absences will not count towards final exam exemptions.

The Board also hired Amanda Smith as a teacher aide and Brittany Congenie as a bus aide.