Submitted by Denair Unified School District:

This month’s meeting of the Denair Unified Board of Trustees will take a very different form, thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

With social distancing recommendations and the safety of staff and the public firmly in mind, the board will rely on technology to satisfy its regular meeting requirement.

Only Superintendent Terry Metzger and the five board members will physically meet at the district office Thursday night. Principals, other staff members, the student board member and the public will be able to participate via a Zoom connection that will go live at 7 p.m.

Zoom allows those who sign up to see and hear everything the trustees do as well as offer comment. It also provides a way for the management team who typically would present information in person to interact remotely.

“All of our board meetings are open to the public,” said Metzger. “We’re happy that we are able to use technology as a tool to allow us to follow the Stanislaus County public health officer’s guidelines and still engage the community in our meetings.”

Denair Unified – like the other 24 public school districts in the county – has cancelled classes the rest of this school year over coronavirus concerns.

Among the highlights on Thursday’s agenda will be Metzger’s report on the district’s plans to begin distance learning via computer on April 20, when spring break is over. Other items to be discussed include proposed new math and ag courses at Denair High School, a charter extension for Denair Elementary Charter Academy, and a tentative contract agreement between the district and the California School Employees Association, which represents all non-teachers.