The 2019-20 academic year has been a challenging one for the Wayland Union School District because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

On the positive side, the local district has learned its state aid will be exactly what was promised. However, Wayland’s customary boost from Gun Lake Casino revenue sharing very likely will take a hit because the facility has been closed for the past month, with no end in sight.

One of the most important casualties has been the search for a new superintendent. Though Norman Taylor announced last December that he would retire after 10 years on June 30, the pandemic has put meetings for public input and candidate interviews on hold indefinitely.

“The superintendent search has been put on hold for now,” said Administrative Assistant Dawn Stein. “After we see what restrictions the governor puts in place after April 30, we will re-evaluate and make a plan for going forward.

“There have been no other meetings as we want the public to be included in the interview process and we are not able to do that with the current ‘Stay Home, Stay Safe’ orders.”

The school board Monday evening held its first meeting since the March 16 shutdown via the Internet. Pat Velie, assistant superintendent for grounds and finance, has been working all along, though the school facilities have been idle.

Velie said that since March 16, the district has provided 40,978 meals to students with three offerings each week.

“That’s a lot of families who never thought they’d be in this situation… When you see the families picking up the food, it’s so sad,” she said.

However, she said she’s been proud of the schools’ staff members who have stepped up to ease the burdens.

“We have a mix of administrators, faculty, food service workers and board members,” she noted. “It makes us feel good to be able to do something.”

Velie, talking about the problems ahead with a drop in casino revenue, said, “It’s going to be very tight next year. We’re going to have to be very conscientious about how we spend casino money,” much of which is used for purchasing buses.

In other business at the virtual meeting Monday, the board:

• Accepted a grant of $68,833.25, or about 25 percent of the total cost of purchasing three new school buses. The board approved spending $35,619 to complete the purchase.
• Learned from the Velie that Wayland earned an energy efficiency rebate of $8,334 from Michigan Gas & Utilities.
• Agreed to have a special virtual meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, April 27, to discuss to discuss the ongoing project of improving the football stadium. Also approved was a $67,800 payment of an invoice for work already done on that project.
• Learned state aid funding will remain intact as long as the district continues to pay its hourly workers during the pandemic.
• Was told by Teresa Fulk, assistant superintendent of instruction, that the schools’ distance learning program for students got under way Monday.
• Decided to have its annual fixed assets sale (of items such as desks, chairs, tables) at the same time as the Wayland Garage Sales in late summer during Summer Fun Days. The community garage sales originally were scheduled for May 7-9, but the virus crises has caused them to be moved back.