Hennessey schools registered nurse Shelley Choate-Muzny was given the go-ahead to give15-minute COVID-19 rapid tests to Hennessey students and employees this week.

That was after Hennessey’s school board named local medical provider Dr. Charlie Ferrell as its medical director Monday night so Muzny could start in-school testing.

Superintendent Dr. Mike Woods said a doctor’s appointment is required by state and county health departments.

Ferrell, who will not be compensated, will sign an order to give the tests and Muzny will give the actual tests and provide positive results to the county health department, Woods said.

Muzny, a certified school employee, has been the school’s nurse since Feb. 2017.

“Shelley has been on top of this,” said Woods. “We’ve missed zero days due to COVID.”

The item to name Ferrell was notlisted on the agenda. Woods brought it up under new business, because he said he had just found out about the need for the appointment that day.

The Open Meeting Law requires that action on items not on the agenda must have been unknown at the time the agenda was posted.

It was posted at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 8.

48 Positive Tests

Since school started in August there have been 36 students and 12 employees who’ve tested positive for COVID-19, Woods told the board.

Those 36 students were from these buildings: early childhood, 2; elementary, 11; middle, 6, and high school, 17.

The 12 employees included: early childhood, 5; elementary, 4, and high school, 3.

Enrollment numbers listed in December for the high school was 234 and the middle school was 203. There was not a report on the elementary or early childhood numbers.

How Many Quarantined?

Patrick Griffin, board member, asked how many students were sent home and who tested positive?

Woods said he didn’t know.

“How many had to go to virtual classes due to close contact?” asked Griffin.

“We don’t have it,” said Woods.

“Why don’t we have it?” asked Griffin.

“We didn’thave to report it,” said Woods. “At the time this started it was pretty hectic. ... It was not asked by the county health department.”

“They don’t follow up and make sure they are quarantined?” asked Griffin.

Woods said he didn’t ask the nurse for that information.

Griffin said it was a hardship on families who had to have children home for two weeks at a time.

“Students need to be in the classroom,” Griffin said.

All board members were present for the meeting though Joe Garrison, vice president, continued to attend virtually. At the site were President Dr. James Matthew Matousek, Clerk Cristopher Choate, Luke Lough and Griffin.

In addition to Woods at the board table, Timberly Jech, office manager and recording clerk, also was present.

Staff in the audience were: Principals Angela Avila (high-mid school), Barry Crosswhite (elementary) and Stacey Schovanec; Paul Hix, athletic director/ head football coach; Matt Means, middle school assistant principal/counselor; Todd Cameron, technology director, and Kylee Warne, athletic trainer.

Others in the audience were David Tillman, newly-elected school board member who will be seated at a future meeting, and Ryan and Ashli Cooper.