REMOTE LEARNING
PREPAREDNESS
In a unique, first-ever fashion, Iowa Park CISD Board of Directors met in a special called meeting Monday night utilizing a remote teleconference.
The unusual meeting was conducted by teleconference in accordance with Gov. Greg Abbott’s temporary suspension of open meetings laws issued March 16.
During the meeting, trustees heard a COVID-19 Preparedness Report from Superintendent Steve Moody and Curriculum and Instructional Technology Coordinator Jodi Schlaud, adopted a resolution authorizing the superintendent to address personnel, operational issues and delivery of remote instruction due to COVID-19, and voted to move the May 2 school election to Nov. 3.
Moody noted that with the schools closed through April 3, there was a real possibility that date would be extended.
And Tuesday, Gov. Abbott ordered the shutdown to extend until May 4. Even that latest order could be extended.
The school district has already switched to in-home instruction, and last week distributed paper packets to Pre-K through second grade, and instituted the Google Classroom and Schoology online systems for Grades 3 through 12. Sixty-two students from those grades required paper packets, according to Schlaud.
“For those students utilizing Schoology, you click on and the work is right there,” she said. “They do Schoology every day, so it is something they are used to. So far, so good, on the instructional front.”
Schlaud added that teachers and staff have been hard at work on the instructional side. “Teachers are available for parents to email with questions. And links are available on our website (ipcisd.net) that will address technology and instructional issues.”
Moody said that all school personnel are adhering to social distancing measures. He is also rotating personnel in food service and in maintenance.
Free breakfast/lunch sacks are available at Kidwell Elementary each morning for all children ages 1-18. Last week, 1,571 meals were handed out. On Monday, 451 meals were given.
Board president Jeff Rhoades told Moody and Schlaud “Thank you for all the time and effort you are putting into this.” SUPERINDENT RESPONSIBILITIES Trustees approved a resolution delegating authority to the super intendent to act in place of the board of trustees during an emergency closure for coronavirus (COVID-19). The following are delegations to the superintendent and designee(s):
1. The authority to act in the place of the Board under Policy DEA (LOCAL) and thus make all decisions regarding payment of employees during an emergency closure, to interpret and implement the provisions of Board Policy DEA (Local), and to make determinations regarding the purpose and parameters of any such payment;
2. The authority to alter the Iowa Park CISD 2019-2020 school calendar by changing and/or adding school/instructional hours and work/school days as necessitated by any emergency closure or related concerns;
3. The authority to act in place of the Board under Policy DEC (Local) regarding employee leave and thus create guidelines and make decisions regarding absences, leave time, leave days, and compensation of any employee who is quarantined (by the District and/or health officials) due to travel or exposure concerns related to COVID-19 and/or who tests positive for COVID-19 and who presents appropriate medical documentation regarding themselves and/or an immediate family member, in compliance with Texas and federal law;
4. The authority to seek any necessary waivers from the Texas Education Agency without further action of the Board of Trustees regarding missed instructional days, low attendance, or any matters related to the emergency closures as part of this Resolution;
5. The authority to declare a catastrophe and take all actions as appropriate in according with Texas Government Code, Section 552.233, regarding temporary suspension of the Texas Public Information Act;
6. The Board further authorizes the Superintendent, in his discretion, to provide any and all assistance related to the COVID-19 virus to other state agencies or local governments that provide a governmental function or service pursuant to the Interlocal Cooperation Act. This may include but is not limited to: use of the District’s facilities for testing potentially infected individuals, housing patients, distributing vaccines, and/or use of school vehicles/busses for transportation to emergency sites. The Superintendent may execute any such Interlocal agreement upon the approval of any such Interlocal agreement by legal counsel; and,
7. In the event other waivers or immediate actions are needed, the Superintendent is authorized to take other action and to submit/apply for other waivers in accordance with guidance and instructions from the national and state authorities and/or agencies. ELECTION MOVED
Trustees approved an order postponing the May 2 election to the Nov. 3 uniform election date.
The order is pursuant to the proclamation by Gov. Abbott authorizing the postponement until Nov. 3.
The candidate filings for the May 2 election remain valid for the Nov. 3, and the filing period for the two open trustee positions will not be re-opened.
All applications for ballot by mail (ABBMs) for voters that are voting by mail due to being over the age of 65 or due to disability will still be valid for the Nov. 3 election. ABBMs for the voters submitted based on expected absence from the county will not be valid for the Nov. 3 election. New ABBMs will need to be submitted for the new election date where an absence from the county is expected.
The major relevant dates for the Nov. 3 election include the voter registration deadline (Oct. 5), the deadline to submit an application for ballot by mail (Oct. 23), and the dates for early voting (Oct. 19-30).
