CLYMER — Clymer Central School is looking for a new business executive.

The board, during its meeting last week, approved a separation agreement between the district and Louann-Larito Baghat, the district’s longtime business official. Baghat was not present at the last meeting. Beth Olson, district superintendent, said Baghat wasn’t at the Nov. 18 meeting because the business manager had quarantined herself due to some potential COVID-19 exposure. Baghat plans to make up any time she owes the district during the first week of December.

Baghat’s intention is to leave the district by mid-December.

Board members unanimously approved the separation agreement.

Despite about $56,000 in state aid withholdings, Olson said Clymer doesn’t need to borrow money through the end of the year. The district’s last aid payment received included lottery money, which by law can’t be withheld from school districts.

“We still have not had to do any type of borrowing,” Olson said. “Based on the fund balance from last year and our tax collection has sort of ramped up. We’re in good shape. She feels confident in terms of cash flow we’re in good shape until at least after the first of the year.”

Much like other districts, Clymer officials have felt the sting from New York state’s decision not to reimburse school districts for transportation expenses incurred during the state-mandated shutdown of schools from March through June. The state has said the money can’t be reimbursed because the state only pays for the actual transportation of students and not for the delivery of meals and instructional materials by bus drivers.

“It’s a done deal on the state end but we feel that there’s going to be some type of reprieve — it may not be the full nut,” Olson said. “We’re waiting to see.”

Olson also discussed the district’s experience with two positive COVID-19 cases earlier this month. District officials decided to continue having students in the school building, with students continuing to social distance when possible, especially in classrooms; wear face coverings when not moving or socially distanced, and wash hands or sanitize frequently.

Board members and Olson agreed that often, school was the safest place for students since school officials can be sure students are taking proper precautions while they are inside the school building. Olson also said the district was somewhat lucky with the two cases because relatively few people had contact with the infected student or staff.

As of Nov. 18, the school had roughly 40 students throughout the school who were being kept from the building due to possible COVID exposure — though district officials were quick to point out that most of those 40 students were not connected to the two known cases from mid-November.

“In both instances it was best case scenario for both,” Olson said. “They both either felt like they had symptoms coming on and or were exposed to someone who had symptoms or was positive, and stayed home while they waited for their own test results. We had very limited or minimal contact tracing that we needed to do.”

In other business:

¯ The district will have a public hearing on its capital project at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, in the student performance center. To register to attend, call the school at 355-4444, ext. 2001.

¯ The district approved combined girls softball team with Sherman Central School for the 2020-21 season.

¯ The board approved Zak Cammarata as the bowling coach.