[1. CALL TO ORDER: 5:30 PM ]
[00:00:05]
GOOD EVENING. I'M DAVID STOLLE, BOARD PRESIDENT AND PRESIDING OFFICER, NOTING THAT A QUORUM IS PRESENT, I CALL TO ORDER THIS SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE PLANO ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES AT 5:31 P.M.
ON THE BOARD'S BEHALF. I WISH TO WELCOME OUR VIEWERS AND ALL WHO ARE PRESENT WITH US THIS EVENING. I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MY FELLOW TRUSTEES AND STAFF SEATED AT THE DAIS, SEATED TO MY LEFT, SARA BONSER, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
DR. TERESA WILLIAMS, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.
TRUSTEE ANGELA POWELL IS AT A RED LIGHT AND WILL BE HERE MOMENTARILY.
TRUSTEE. DR. HEATHER WANG TRUSTEE.
DR. LAUREN TYRA BOARD SECRETARY, JERI CHAMBERS.
SEATED TO MY RIGHT, VICE PRESIDENT NANCY HUMPHREY, TRUSTEE CODY WEAVER.
RANDY MCDOWELL, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PATRICK TANNER, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.
DR. KATRINA HASLEY, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR ACADEMIC SERVICES.
DR. COURTNEY GOBER, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR STUDENT, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.
DR. SELENDA ANDERSON, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND DISTRICT SERVICES. DR. BETH BROCKMAN, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR EMPLOYEE SERVICES.
AND SHARON NOWAK, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
AT THIS TIME, I ASKSUPERINTENDENT BONSER TO VERIFY THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
[2. CLOSED SESSION ]
PROVISIONS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT REGARDING THE NOTICE FOR THIS MEETING.I VERIFIED THAT THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS FROM THE BOARD, WE WILL NOW ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION AS AUTHORIZED UNDER TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES.
SECTIONS 551.071, 551.072, 551.029.
[3. RECONVENE OPEN SESSION]
OK, THE BOARD IS NOW BACK IN SESSION.AGAIN, LET ME REITERATE, FOR THOSE WHO WERE UNABLE TO HEAR, WE ARE GOING TO FINISH PUBLIC
[4. PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION]
COMMENT. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR THE SIX SPEAKERS WHO HAVE NOT YET HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR. WE'VE ASKED FOR THIS ROOM TO BE CLEARED AT THE AT THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT.WHEN WE START THE AGENDA ITEMS, WE INVITE ALL OF OUR GUESTS TO COME BACK INTO THE ROOM.
THIS IS OUR TIME TO HEAR OUR AGENDA ITEMS, AND IF THERE IS ANY DISRUPTION FROM ANYBODY IN THE ROOM WHEN YOU COME BACK IN, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.
AND IF WE HAVE TO AGAIN, WE WILL TAKE A RECESS.
WE DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO CLEAR THE ROOM.
AND YOU ARE OUR GUEST AT OUR MEETING, BUT IT IS STILL OUR MEETING.
AND SO IF WE CAN CONTINUE NOW WITH PUBLIC COMMENT TO FINISH THE SIX THAT DID NOT GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. OK, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT STOLLE.
WE HAVE FIVE OF THE SIX SPEAKERS WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO SPEAK WHO ARE HERE IN THE ROOM WITH US. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS R.
MY NAME IS R. CHAI, I'M A MOM OF A THIRD GRADER IN PISD AND A 20 MONTH OLD.
I STRONGLY SUGGEST THE MASK MANDATE, LUNCH IN CLASSROOMS, CONTACT TRACING AND [INAUDIBLE] POLICIES IN PLACE FOR PISD.
I KNOW DALLAS ISD HAS MANDATED MASKS AT THE SCHOOL.
I DON'T SEE WHY PISD CANNOT DO THAT.
I'M JUST GIVING [INAUDIBLE] YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW, ACCORDING TO GARLAND ISD, AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES, THIRTY ONE STAFF AND TWO HUNDRED TWENTY FOUR STUDENTS IN GARLAND ISD HAVE TESTED POSITIVE WAS [INAUDIBLE] CLASSES ON MASK MANDATE AND FROM JULY 22ND TO JULY 29TH, THERE'S NEARLY SEVENTY TWO THOUSAND NEW PEDIATRIC COVID CASES WERE REPORTED ON CHILDREN.
CBS NEWS AND NEW YORK TIMES SAYS TODAY AT TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN HOUSTON, COVID HOSPITAL RATE HAVE RISEN FROM AROUND 3 PERCENT TO ABOUT 10 PERCENT AMONG KIDS AND AT LEAST 81 CHILDREN IN THE US HAVE DIED OF COVID BETWEEN MARCH AND JULY.
MA'AM, THANK YOU SO MUCH; YOUR TIME IS UP.
SINGH. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT AS A MOTHER OF TWO LITTLE KIDS AT AN SKAGGS ELEMENTARY THIS COMING ACADEMIC YEAR, I HAD HUGE APPREHENSION AND CONCERN FOR MY KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL FACE TO FACE AMID THE ONGOING COVID SITUATION.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE HONORABLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT PISD FOR GIVING OUR KIDS TO HAVE TEMPORARY THREE WEEKS DURATION OF LEARNING AT HOME.
THIS SUMMER THAT THERE HAD BEEN A DRAMATIC SURGE IN THE COVID CASES, AND WITH THE DELTA VARIANT AT LARGE ON-SETTING THE INCIDENCE AND MORBIDITY OF COVID-19 OF PEOPLE FASTER THAN PREVIOUS VARIANTS. WHILE THERE ARE MORE NUMBER OF KID HOSPITALIZATIONS, THIS TIME WE
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WOULD WANT OUR KIDS TO HAVE A PROLONGED VIRTUAL LEARNING MODEL UNTIL VACCINES ARE ADMINISTERED FULLY. WE WOULD URGE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO CONSIDER HAVING VIRTUAL MODE UNTIL THE TIME KIDS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.ALSO, WITHIN THIS TIME, WE ASK THE SCHOOL BOARD TO INCORPORATE TEACHER-LED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THE SAME THAT THEY HAD PAST ACADEMIC YEAR.
THIS WILL ENSURE NOT ONLY A RISK FREE ATMOSPHERE OF LEARNING FOR OUR KIDS, BUT ALSO QUALITY AND OPTIMAL EDUCATION, WHICH CAN BE ENABLED THROUGH TEACHER-LED [INAUDIBLE] LEARNING. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS [INAUDIBLE].
I'M [INAUDIBLE] A PARENT OF UNVACCINATED FOURTH GRADER.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PLANO BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT IN PROVIDING THE VIRTUAL LEARNING OPTION FOR K TO SIX.
IT IS A GOOD STARTING POINT FOR WHAT YOU'RE LEARNING.
OUR KIDS HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE THE QUALITY EDUCATION, AND I'M REQUESTING THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THE TEACHER-LED VIRTUAL MODEL THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE SINCE LAST YEAR.
TEACHER-LED VIRTUAL OPTION WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL WHERE THE STUDENT AND TEACHER INTERACTION WERE IN PLACE AND THE KIDS WERE ABLE TO WORK AS A GROUP SIMILAR TO THE CLASSROOM.
THE CURRENT ASYNCHRONOUS PROPOSAL BY THE PISD IS JUST A HOMESCHOOLING MODEL.
WE CONTACTED PISD BOARD MEMBER FOR TEACHER-LED VIRTUAL OPTION UNTIL VACCINATION.
OUR CONCERN SENDING UNVACCINATED KIDS TO THE CLASSROOM IS DUE TO THE DANGEROUS DELTA VARIANT ON THE RISE.
WE APPRECIATE LISTENING TO US.
WE HOPE WE CAN WORK WITH YOU ON THE SOLUTION PROVIDING THE TEACHER GUIDED LEARNING DURING THE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT.
PLEASE, PLEASE WORK WITH US UNTIL OUR KIDS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATION.
WE UNDERSTAND THE DISTRICT MAY NEED LOGISTICS AND WE ARE READY TO WORK WITH YOU.
WE WANT TO BRING THE--MA'AM, THANK YOU, THAT'S YOUR TIME.
MY NAME IS LOCATION MATTER, AND I AM THE PARENT OF A FOURTH GRADER AT SKAGGS ELEMENTARY.
I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY KIDS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.
I DO NOT FEEL HONESTLY COMFORTABLE SENDING MY DAUGHTER, MY LITTLE PRINCESS, TO THE SCHOOL. NOW I'D LIKE TO THANK THE PISD BOARD MEMBERS FOR OFFERING THIS TEMPORARY PARENT-LED VIRTUAL LEARNING.
THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS A TEACHER-LED SYNCHRONOUS ENGAGING THE KIDS KIND OF AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY GET TO SEE THEIR FRIENDS AND TEACHERS ON THE CAMERA, TALK TO THEIR TEACHERS AND DON'T FEEL CUT OFF FROM THE SCHOOL INTERACTIONS.
I'M A SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIST AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE TECHNOLOGY CAN COME TO OUR HELP.
NOW'S THE TIME TO LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY.
WE DID SO WELL LAST YEAR, BUT NOW THE COVID VARIANT HAS EVEN BECOME MORE DANGEROUS.
RIGHT. AND UNTIL OUR KIDS ARE VACCINATED, IT IS NOT A TIME FOR US TO GIVE UP ON TECHNOLOGY. WE SHOULD LEVERAGE TECHNOLOGY TO OUR ADVANTAGE, OFFER OUR KIDS WITH A SYNCHRONIZED TEACHER-LED EFFECTIVE VIRTUAL LEARNING SOLUTIONS SO THAT THEY DON'T FEEL SECLUDED, STILL FEEL PART AND GET QUALITY EDUCATION IN THE CONFINES AND SAFETY OF THEIR HOMES. THANK YOU. AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS [INAUDIBLE].
GOOD EVENING, PLANO ISD BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR HEARING OUR VOICE AND STARTING THE TEMPORARY VIRTUAL OPTION.
WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY IN CREATING A TEACHER-LED VIRTUAL LEARNING SOLUTION FOR K-6 STUDENTS IN PLANO ISD SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE LAST YEAR, TRANSFER VIRTUAL LEARNING RESPONSIBILITIES TO PARENTS ARE TEMPORARILY.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A BETTER SOLUTION.
VIRTUAL LEARNING STUDENTS DESERVE EQUAL QUALITY LEARNING OPPORTUNITY AS IN-PERSON LEARNING STUDENTS, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
OK. PRESIDENT STOLLE AND BOARD, WE HAVE OUR FINAL SPEAKER WHO CAME, WE'VE GOT NATALIE LIN.
HI, EVERYONE. I'M STANDING HERE TONIGHT, JUST WANT TO SAY ONE THING AS A PARENT OF PISD, PLEASE, MANDATE MASKS FOR EVERYONE ON CAMPUS, AS WE DID LAST YEAR, TO STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID. WE ARE STILL FACING THE DELTA AND LAMBDA VARIANTS AND KIDS UNDER 12 DON'T HAVE ANY VACCINE RIGHT NOW.
EASILY SPREAD THAN BEFORE, NO MATTER IF WE'RE AFRAID OF IT.
ONLY PROVIDING PARENT-LED VIRTUAL OPTION CANNOT STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID FOR IN-PERSON STUDENTS. I KNOW THAT DALLAS ISD HAD GIVEN A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR US.
THEY WERE MANDATE MASKS ON CAMPUS STARTING TOMORROW, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE ALSO FACING THE
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GOVERNOR'S ORDER.THEY DID IT IN CONSIDERATION OF STUDENT SAFETY, SO PLEASE MANDATE FOR PISD IN THIS SCHOOL YEAR. DON'T PUT OUR KIDS AS A STATISTIC DATA TO--THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PAUSE NOW.
FOR THOSE OF YOU OUTSIDE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK AND YOU MAY DO SO.
SO, I WILL JUST FINALIZE BY SAYING FOLKS, I KNOW THAT ONE MINUTE IS NOT A LONG TIME TO SPEAK, AND YOU MAY FEEL LIKE THAT YOUR VOICES ARE NOT BEING HEARD; YOUR VOICES ARE BEING HEARD. AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THIS BOARD READS EVERY SINGLE EMAIL THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED. AND SO I WOULD ASK YOU, IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO SAY MORE TO THE BOARD, YOU HAVE AN OPTION TO EMAIL US.
AND NOT ONLY WILL WE READ IT, YOU WILL GET A RESPONSE.
ALL RIGHT. SO LET'S MOVE ON NOW.
WE NOW MOVE TO DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM 5.1.
DR. BETH BROCKMAN, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR EMPLOYEE SERVICES, WILL PRESENT THE APPROVAL OF A REVISED HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR.
I'LL KICK US OFF. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT STOLLE, WE'LL PULL UP THE PRESENTATION.
OK, WELL, I'LL TALK WHILE WE'RE BRINGING IT UP.
SO LAST WEEK AT OUR BOARD MEETING, WE BROUGHT INITIAL PROTOCOLS TO THE BOARD FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION AND ACTION AND DISCUSSION.
THOSE PROTOCOLS BASED ON INFORMATION WE HAD AT THAT TIME HAVE SINCE BEEN REVISED.
WERE ALSO WAITING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT TEA WAS GOING TO DO LAST WEEK TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY CHANGES IN GUIDANCE FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON THOSE THINGS, CHANGES WE'VE MADE TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS.
AND THEN, AS WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AROUND US AND COMMUNICATE WITH OUR PARENTS AND FAMILIES.
AND SO LAST WEEK, THE TEAM WENT BACK AND REVIEWED WHAT OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO AND THEN CONSIDERED WHAT TEA WAS SAYING AND IF THAT HAD ANY IMPLICATIONS.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO TALK TONIGHT ABOUT THE TEACHER-LED TEMPORARY VIRTUAL OPTION, JUST AS A REMINDER TO THOSE WHO ARE IN THE AUDIENCE OR LISTENING FROM HOME WHO WERE NOT A PART OF THIS DISCUSSION LAST WEEK, PLANO ISD WAS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THE VIRTUAL LEARNING BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
AND SO FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THOSE BILLS THAT WERE PASSED THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED US TO OFFER A FULLY FUNDED VIRTUAL ACADEMY WAS ONE OF THE BOARD'S LEGISLATIVE ADOPTED PRIORITIES. AND SO WE WERE VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF THAT.
SO IN JUNE, THAT BILL DID NOT MAKE IT FOR A VOTE AND IT DIED.
AND SO IT ALSO DID NOT RESURFACE IN THE FIRST SPECIAL SESSION AGENDA.
IT HAS SINCE RESURFACED IN THE SECOND SPECIAL SESSION AGENDA POSSIBLY.
AND SO WE'RE WAITING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FUNDING AND THE BILL HAD NOT PASSED, PLANNING FOR A VIRTUAL ACADEMY IN PLANO ISD STOPPED IN JUNE BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE FUNDING, NOR DID WE HAVE THE LAW BEHIND US TO DO SO BASED ON THE STATUS OF THE VIRUS AND WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
WE DID GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AFTER TEA'S VISIT WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS LAST WEEK BECAUSE WERE GETTING NO VIRTUAL OPTION OR RELIEF COMING FROM TEA THROUGH ANY OF THE ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING HANDBOOK OR GUIDANCE THAT THE COMMISSIONER WAS PROVIDING TO US.
SO THUS YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THE OPTION THAT WE CREATED ON A VERY SHORT TURNAROUND TIME TO TRY TO PROVIDE SOME OPTION, AT LEAST TO GET US THROUGH THE FIRST THREE WEEKS AS WE
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CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS OF GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.TRY TO DO OUR BEST TO PROVIDE A CHOICE FOR PARENTS.
WHILE WE UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT A PERFECT CHOICE, PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING OUR WE ARE DOING OUR DILIGENCE TO TRY TO REVISE PROTOCOLS AND PUT STRONGER PROTOCOLS IN PLACE AND TO OFFER A VIRTUAL OPTION THAT WE CAN SUPPORT IN A SHORT TURNAROUND TIME WHILE WE WATCH WHAT HAPPENS. AND SO I DON'T KNOW, I WISH WE ALL HAD A CRYSTAL BALL TO SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. AND SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.
YOU KNOW, I NEVER LIKE TO SEE PARENTS COME IN AND NOT FEEL HEARD.
WE'VE HAD HUNDREDS OF EMAILS AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO RESPOND TO EACH ONE WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET SCHOOL STARTED THIS WEEK.
AND SO WE UNDERSTAND WE DO UNDERSTAND YOUR YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE DELTA VARIANT.
AND WE'RE WATCHING IT VERY CLOSELY AND TALKING WITH OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTY AND OUR HEALTH OFFICIALS TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TODO EVERYTHING WE CAN.
SO PLEASE KNOW THAT THE VIRTUAL OPTION WE HAVE IN PLACE IS RIGHT NOW PROPOSED AS A SHORT TERM SOLUTION. WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW LONG COULD THAT LAST? WE'LL REEVALUATE AS WE GO.
AND IF WE DO, THEN WE'LL CONSIDER THAT AND LET OUR FAMILIES KNOW.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER NOW TO DR.
BROCKMAN. I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO TEE THIS UP.
AND SHE'S GOING TO TALK TO YOU FIRST ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOL REVISIONS.
AND THOSE WERE PUBLISHED IN DRAFT FORM WITH THE AGENDA THIS EVENING.
AND THEN THE BOARD WILL TAKE ACTION LATER THIS EVENING AND WE'LL POST THOSE IN OFFICIAL FORMAT. THE PRINCIPALS HAVE ALREADY SEEN THESE SO THEY KNOW WHAT'S COMING AND THE STAFF, SO THAT TRAINING COULD OCCUR ON THE ENHANCED PROTOCOLS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING THIS EVENING.
I WOULD LIKE TO START BY JUST GIVING A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE GUIDANCE WE RECEIVED FROM TEA LAST WEEK.
COVID POSITIVE STUDENTS AND STAFF MUST BE.
SECLUDED FROM CAMPUS AND MUST QUARANTINE.
THERE'S NO CHANGE, AS MS. BONSER ALLUDED TO, IN WHAT WE CAN DO AROUND VIRTUAL LEARNING.
CLOSE CONTACTS MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO STAY HOME BY THE SCHOOL, AND THEY CAN QUARANTINE AT A PARENT'S DISCRETION.
SOME THINGS THAT WILL CONTINUE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
WE WILL REPORT TO THE COLLIN COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES.
WE WILL NOTIFY ELEMENTARY CLASSES WHEN A STUDENT HAS TESTED POSITIVE IN THAT CLASS.
SO THE FAMILIES OF THE STUDENTS IN THAT CLASS, AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL, WE WILL NOTIFY FAMILIES OF STUDENTS ATTENDING THE SCHOOL.
IT WILL BE A SCHOOL WIDE PIECE.
COLLIN COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES, WILL TAKE THE CONTACT TRACING AND NOTIFY CLOSE CONTACTS.
PARENTS OF THOSE WHO ARE NOTIFIED THAT THEY ARE A CLOSE CONTACT CAN ELECT FOR THEIR CHILD TO QUARANTINE.
THEY JUST HAVE TO NOTIFY THE CAMPUS THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
AND FINALLY, WE WILL CONTINUE OUR PLAN TO MONITOR FOR ADDITIONAL POSITIVE CASES, ABSENCE TRENDS AND KEEPING A PULSE ON BOTH THE COMMUNITY CONTEXT AS WELL AS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS. SO JUST ONE LAST THING.
ON THE QUARANTINING OF CLOSE CONTACTS AND THE QUARANTINE OF A POSITIVE STUDENT, THAT IS NOT THE SAME THING AS THE ROLL OUT OF THE PARENT-LED TEMPORARY VIRTUAL OPTION.
SO THERE'S A COMPLETELY SEPARATE QUARANTINE PLAN FOR KIDS THAT TEST POSITIVE OR WHOSE PARENTS NOTIFY US THAT COLLIN COUNTY HAS LET THEM KNOW THEIR CHILD WAS A CLOSE CONTACT.
SO THOSE DETAILS WILL ROLL OUT SEPARATELY.
SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO CONFUSE THOSE TWO THINGS, SO WE DIDN'T ROLL THEM AT THE SAME TIME.
THANK YOU. SO THIS IS AN UPDATE FROM LAST WEEK, BUT PLEASE NOTE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE AS THE SITUATION WARRANTS AND AS WE HAVE DIFFERENT GUIDANCE.
OK, SO SCREENING, WE ARE ASKING, AS WE DID LAST WEEK, THAT EVERYONE SCREENS WHEN BEFORE THEY COME TO SCHOOL, WHETHER IT'S A STUDENT, A STAFF MEMBER OR A VISITOR, WE HAVE MADE THE ADJUSTMENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO REQUIRE VISITORS TO COMPLETE AN ACTUAL, LIKE PAPER
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SCREENER WHEN THEY CHECK INTO A PISD BUILDING.MASKS, AS YOU KNOW, PER THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER CANNOT BE REQUIRED, IT'S RECOMMENDED THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE IN SCHOOL OFFICES, THEY WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON BUSSES FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED A MASK, WHO WANT A MASK THAT MAYBE FORGOT THEIRRS AT HOME.
WE ALSO HAVE SIGNAGE FOR ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES THAT INDICATE THAT MASKS ARE RECOMMENDED.
SO VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS, THIS WHOLE SECTION WAS NEW.
WE'RE GOING TO REQUEST THAT VOLUNTEERS MUST BE PRESCHEDULED AND APPROVED BY SCHOOL STAFF THAT WILL HELP US MONITOR THE NUMBER OF VISITORS ON THE CAMPUS AT ANY ONE TIME.
AND WE'RE NOT ALLOWING CAFETERIA VISITORS ANY TIME DURING THE FIRST NINE WEEKS.
AND FOR ELEMENTARY PARENTS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW YOU TO WALK YOUR CHILD TO THE CLASSROOM ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ONLY.
CAMPUS CLEANING AND DISINFECTING STAFF WILL REDUCE THE USE OF SHARED SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS WHEN POSSIBLE, AND SHARED ITEMS SHOULD BE SANITIZED REGULARLY.
COMMON AREAS AND MEETINGS, THIS WHOLE SECTION WAS NEW AND ADDED ON, INCLUDING SCHEDULING TIME AND SPACE FOR STUDENTS IN THESE COMMON AREAS THROUGH A RESERVATION SYSTEM, AS WELL AS REINFORCING GOOD HABITS THROUGH WASHING HANDS, HAND SANITIZER USE PERSONAL SUPPLIES BEING BROUGHT FROM THE CLASSROOM AS OPPOSED TO SHARING.
AND WE WILL DISINFECT AND CLEAN THOSE SPACES REGULARLY AND CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR AND SUPPORTING THE USE OF VIRTUAL MEETINGS WHEN POSSIBLE.
IN SPECIALIZED CLASSROOMS, WE MADE JUST A COUPLE OF ADJUSTMENTS HERE.
FOR PE, BOTH AT THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LEVEL.
WE'VE ADDED THAT ALL PE ACTIVITIES SHOULD TAKE PLACE OUTDOORS, AS FEASIBLE AS WEATHER ALLOWS, AS THE ACTIVITY ALLOWS IN ATHLETICS, THE REINFORCEMENT OF HOW WATER BREAKS WILL TAKE PLACE AND BRINGING A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE AND MONITORING THOSE WATER STATIONS TO KEEP KIDS SAFE AND NOT SHARING WATER BOTTLES.
AND IN THE CHOIR CLASSROOM, AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL STUDENTS WEAR A MASK WHILE SINGING.
THAT ITEM WAS ALREADY IN THE PLAN FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS.
STAFF, STUDENT AND PARENT TRAINING, WE HAVE ROLLED OUT A TOOL KIT FOR OUR CAMPUSES, FOR TRAINING RESOURCES.
THESE THINGS INCLUDE GOOD HYGIENE HABITS, WHETHER IT BE SNEEZING AND COUGHING, HAND WASHING, HAND SANITIZER, USE THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO WEAR MASKS FOR THOSE WHO ARE WEARING MASKS, AS WELL AS GUIDES FOR THE CAMPUSES IN SETTING FORTH THEIR OWN PIECES AROUND THEIR COMMON AREAS AND HOW THAT WORKS ON EACH INDIVIDUAL CAMPUS, THAT'S CONFIGURED A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY. ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL, WE'VE ASKED AND HAVE ASKED OUR CAMPUSES THAT TO USE SEPARATE ENTRANCES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR CAR RIDERS, BUS RIDERS, WALKERS, DAYCARES, ETC., AND THAT STUDENTS WILL GO IMMEDIATELY TO THEIR DESIGNATED AREAS AS IDENTIFIED BY THE CAMPUS BASED ON THEIR SPACE AND AT DISMISSAL, THE CAMPUS MAY DECIDE AND DESIGNATE STAGGERED DISMISSAL GROUPS AGAIN, STAGGERING THE GROUPS OF WALKERS, CAR RIDERS, BUS RIDERS, GRADE LEVELS IF HELPFUL, ETC..
AND WE ARE ASKING FOR PARENT ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT WITH THAT.
TRANSPORTATION, THIS WHOLE SECTION WAS NEW, WE ARE REQUIRING THAT STUDENTS WILL SIT ON THE BUS IN THEIR ASSIGNED SEAT OR ZONE OF THE BUS SO THAT WE HAVE A SEATING CHART OF THE BUS. HAND SANITIZER WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN THEY ENTER THE BUS AND ENCOURAGED FOR USE.
WE ALSO WILL HAVE MASKS AVAILABLE ON THE BUS.
AND THEN OUR USUAL BUS IN MOTION RULES AND SHARED FOOD, DRINKS, PERSONAL DEVICES ARE, AS USUAL, NOT ALLOWED.
BUSSES WILL CONTINUE TO BE CLEANED AND DISINFECTED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
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THEY WILL BE CLEANED SPECIFICALLY AFTER THE MORNING ROUTES AND THEN AFTER THE EVENING ROUTES. CAFETERIAS AND THIS IS MOSTLY FOR OUR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THEY WILL ASSIGN SEATING FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.WE ARE ASKING THEM TO MAINTAIN THE CLASS GROUPING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AT THE LUNCH TIME SO THAT MRS. SMITH'S CLASS, WHO'S TOGETHER IN CLASS DURING THE DAY, IS ALSO SITTING TOGETHER AT LUNCH.
CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION MAY DESIGNATE ADDITIONAL AREAS THAT CAN BE USED FOR LUNCH ON A DAILY BASIS, WHETHER IT BE CLASSROOMS, THE LIBRARY, OTHER LARGE AREAS THEY MAY HAVE AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME.
HAND SANITIZING WHEN THEY ENTER, WHEN THEY EXIT WILL CONTINUE TO BE RECOMMENDED.
WE ARE CEASING THIRD PARTY FOOD DELIVERIES AT THIS TIME AND AGAIN, MEAL TIME VISITORS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN SCHOOL CAFETERIAS FOR THE FIRST NINE WEEKS.
SCHOOLWIDE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, THIS WHOLE SECTION WAS NEW DURING THE FIRST NINE WEEKS OF SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMPUSES ARE NOW PROHIBITED FROM PLANNING LARGE ATTENDANCE EVENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, WHETHER THAT BE ALL SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES, PARTIES, SOCIALS, PEP RALLIES, ETC.
THAT BRINGS LARGE GROUPS OF STUDENTS TOGETHER.
THEY'RE ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS FOR SMALLER GATHERINGS OR VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES. HIGH SCHOOLS AND SENIOR HIGHS ARE ASKED TO BE MINDFUL AND CAUTIOUS AS THEY PLAN LARGE GROUP EVENTS AND ALLOW AN OPT OUT CHOICE FOR STUDENTS AND OPEN HOUSE AND GRADE LEVEL MEETING NIGHTS, THIS FIRST NINE WEEKS WILL BE VIRTUAL FOR ALL GRADE LEVELS.
BETH, CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION? OF COURSE, THANK YOU.
SO FOR TH, SO JUST TO CLARIFY, ALL CAMPUSES FOR THEIR OPEN HOUSE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE VIRTUAL. YES.
OPEN HOUSE, AS WELL AS GRADE LEVEL MEETING NIGHTS.
OK, SO ONE THING, YOU KNOW, JUST THINKING ABOUT PARENTS BEING PARTNERS IN EDUCATION WITH THE TEACHERS FOR THEIR STUDENTS, IF IT'S POSSIBLE.
AND I THINK SARA CAN SPEAK MORE TO THIS, THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A SECOND SEMESTER OR SECOND NINE WEEKS, THIRD NINE WEEKS, IF THE SITUATION WARRANTS IT, TO HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO MEET THE TEACHERS.
BECAUSE I THINK ESTABLISHING THAT RELATIONSHIP AND RAPPORT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THAT'S DIFFICULT TO DO VIRTUALLY.
AND SO IF WE COULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY SIMILAR TO THE OPEN HOUSE SO PARENTS CAN MEET THE TEACHERS IN PERSON.
I THINK THAT'S VERY VALUABLE IN BUILDING THAT RELATIONSHIP.
ALL RIGHT. NO, I DON'T HOW CAN YOU DRAW FOR ME? OK, SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO THE PARENT-LED VIRTUAL OPTION.
AS SARA STATED, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE HAD A VERY QUICK TURNAROUND ON.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LEARNED ON THURSDAY IS OUR TEACHERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TEACH, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO INSTRUCT STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM AND STUDENTS AT HOME. SO THAT IS ONE OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES IN PUTTING A VIRTUAL LEARNING PLAN LITERALLY 72 HOURS BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
SO IN ADDITION TO OUR FACE TO FACE INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL, WE WILL PROVIDE A PARENT-LED OR PARENT SUPPORTED TEMPORARY VIRTUAL OPTION FOR PARENTS WHO ARE SEEKING AN ALTERNATIVE TO IN-PERSON LEARNING. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN AND WE ALSO ARE VERY CONCERNED AND ARE WORKING OUR VERY BEST TO TRY TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR LEARNERS AND ALL OF OUR FAMILIES. THIS TEMPORARY OPTION FOR THE MOMENT IS REMOTE, ASYNCHRONOUS AND STUDENTS WILL ENGAGE WITH THEIR LEARNING MATERIALS FROM HOME.
THIS TEMPORARY SOLUTION WILL ALLOW STUDENTS TO ACCESS PISD CURRICULUM RESOURCES IN AN ASYNCHRONOUS MANNER, FROM GRADES PRE KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE, WHERE VACCINATIONS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS.
JUST AS A REMINDER, ALL OF OUR PRE-K STUDENTS MUST QUALIFY FOR PRE-K ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE. SO, INSTRUCTION WILL FOLLOW ALL OF OUR PLANO ISD SCOPE AND SEQUENCE, AND WE WILL PROVIDE LESSONS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES AND ELECTIVES WILL NOT BE OFFERED FOR SIXTH GRADERS DURING THIS TIME.
[00:30:09]
SO STUDENTS, WHAT THEIR DAY WILL LOOK LIKE IS THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO PRERECORDED DIRECT INSTRUCTION LESSONS WITH CORRESPONDING ASSIGNMENTS AND ACTIVITIES, SO PISD TEACHERS WILL RECORD HIGH QUALITY LESSONS.THEY WILL PLAN AND PREPARE ASSIGNMENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT STUDENTS CAN USE TO REINFORCE THE LEARNING OF THOSE CONCEPTS.
AND ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR SUPPORTING INTERVENTION AND ENRICHMENT.
JUST A REMINDER, THIS MODEL DOES NOT INCLUDE AT THIS TIME ANY SYNCHRONOUS LIVE INSTRUCTION, AND IT DOES NOT RESEMBLE OUR PISD SCHOOL AT HOME.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHILE STUDENTS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PARENT-LED TEMPORARY VIRTUAL OPTION, THEY WILL REMAIN ENROLLED IN THEIR HOME CAMPUS.
THEY WILL ALSO REMAIN ON THEIR HOME CAMPUS, THEIR TEACHER ROSTER.
AND WE WILL SAVE THEIR SEAT SO THAT WHEN STUDENTS RETURN, THEY ARE ALREADY ATTACHED TO A CAMPUS INTO THEIR TEACHER OF RECORD.
THE HOME CAMPUS TEACHER WILL NOT BE DELIVERING DIRECT INSTRUCTION FOR THE STUDENTS AND THEY WILL BE READY TO REENGAGE AND SERVE STUDENTS WHEN THEY RETURN BACK TO FACE TO FACE LEARNING. ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL PARTS OF THIS OPTION IS PARENT ENGAGEMENT AND PARENTS ACTING AS A PARTNER THROUGH THE LEARNING WHILE STUDENTS ARE AT HOME.
SO OUR REGISTRATION, WE SENT OUT INFORMATION THIS, I GUESS, MIDDAY TODAY, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE OUR FAMILIES AS NEW INFORMATION COMES OUT.
BUT AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE A WEB PAGE THAT HAS ENROLLMENT INFORMATION.
ANY PARENT WHO IS SEEKING TO OPT-IN TO THIS OPTION HAS UNTIL 11:59 P.M.
ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11TH, TO INDICATE THAT THEY WILL BE CONSIDERING THE VIRTUAL OPTION FOR THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF SCHOOL.
THE REST OF THE WEEK UNTIL THE 13TH, THIS IS TIME FOR PARENTS TO PREPARE FOR LEARNING.
THERE IS A CHECKLIST ON THE WEBSITE AND OTHER RESOURCES THAT PARENTS CAN USE IN SETTING UP THEIR CLASSROOM AT HOME FOR THEIR STUDENT.
ON AUGUST 16TH, WE WILL LAUNCH AND BEGIN OUR NEW ONLINE LEARNING LESSONS, ACTIVITIES AND VIDEOS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE AT THAT AT THAT POINT ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORM.
WE WILL BE UPDATING OUR WEBSITE AS WELL AS SENDING PARENT COMMUNICATION AS NEW INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.
SO DOES THAT ALLOW FOR STUDENTS TO ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY ATTEND SCHOOL ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL AND ALLOWS PARENTS TO MAKE THE ASSESSMENT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? AND THEN THAT EVENING, THEY COULD CHOOSE TO THEN DO THE AT-HOME? THAT COULD BE ONE OF THE OPTIONS OR PARENTS THAT WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PARENTS SINCE WE'VE TURNED THIS ON THAT HAVE ALREADY INDICATED THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
SO THEY COULD KEEP THEIR STUDENT AT HOME THE FIRST DAY.
SO EITHER WAY, SO IF PARENTS SEND THEIR STUDENTS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, THEY DECIDE WE DON'T FEEL SAFE. THEY HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT OF THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL TO INDICATE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VIRTUAL LEARNING OPTION.
ADDITIONALLY, SOME PARENTS HAVE ALREADY MADE THAT DECISION, AND IF THEY HAVE, THEY DO NOT NEED TO SEND THEIR STUDENTS THE FIRST DAY.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO ONE OF THE I MEAN, THIS IS ESSENTIAL AS FAR AS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL AND WE'RE GOING TO NAVIGATE THIS TOGETHER AND WE'RE PUTTING RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AS WELL AS TO STUDENTS SO THAT THERE'S A STRONG SUPPORT FOR PARENTS AS THEY'RE HELPING SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS.
SO HERE'S JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ASKING OUR PARENTS.
ONE THAT THEY'RE SERVING AS A HOME LEARNING COACH, THAT THEY'RE SETTING ASIDE WE'RE ASKING PARENTS TO SET ASIDE A SPACE AT HOME THAT'S CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING.
THAT THEY'RE TAKING THE TIME TO ACCESS THE PARENT RESOURCES BECOME FAMILIAR SO THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO SUPPORT THEIR STUDENTS.
THAT THEY HELPED SET THE LEARNING EXPECTATIONS AND SCHEDULE FOR STUDENTS BECAUSE IT IS ASYNCHRONOUS WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF SAMPLE SCHEDULES THAT PARENTS COULD FOLLOW.
HOWEVER, IT IS ASYNCHRONOUS, AND SINCE PARENTS ARE A PART OF THE LEARNING WITH THEIR STUDENT, THERE IS THE FLEXIBILITY TO ADJUST THEIR SCHEDULES TO FIT YOUR FAMILY NEEDS AND SITUATION. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS, AND SO
[00:35:06]
THERE IS ON OUR WEBSITE, YOU'LL FIND HOW TO ACCESS CHROMEBOOK IF YOU NEED THAT AND ANY CONNECTIVITY. THERE'RE SAMPLE SCHEDULES AND ONE OF THE TWO OTHER AREAS THAT WE ASK PARENTS SUPPORT IN, AND THAT'S MAKING SURE THE STUDENTS COMPLETE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS AND THAT THEY IF THEY NEED HELP WITH SUBMITTING THEM, THAT THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE PLATFORM AND CAN HELP THEIR STUDENTS ALONG THE WAY.AND FINALLY, WE HAVE A NEW WEB PAGE THAT HAS ALL OF THIS INFORMATION THAT WE'VE SHARED THIS EVENING. WE ALSO SENT OUT OUR REVISED RETURN TO SCHOOL MANUAL THAT'S AVAILABLE.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE AGAIN TO UPDATE ALL OF OUR WEBSITE INFORMATION AND PARENT RESOURCES.
AND WE'LL ALSO SEND THOSE OUT IN OUR DAILY FAMILY UPDATES.
THERESA, WILL PARENTS HAVE AN ASYNCHRONOUS ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT OR POINT PERSON? THERE WILL BE A LIST OF WHERE TO GO FOR HELP FOR TECHNOLOGY OR COUNSELOR OR WHO TO CONTACT AT YOUR CAMPUS OR SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND WE'RE STILL DEVELOPING THE TUTORING AND ENRICHMENT OPTIONS AS WELL? YES. OK, THANK YOU.
AND THEN ONE QUESTION, SORRY, WHAT ABOUT ASSESSMENTS? DO THEY TURN THINGS INTO SOMEBODY OR IS THAT STILL TO BE DETERMINED? WELL, THERE'RE SEVERAL PIECES.
SO STUDENTS WILL HAVE A WAY TO TURN IN THEIR DAILY ASSIGNMENTS.
THEY'LL HAVE A METHOD FOR TURNING IN ANY DAILY QUIZZES OR ANY OTHER PROJECTS OR ACTIVITIES. AND THEN BEGINNING OF YEAR MAP.
AND IF I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE WINDOW IS, BUT THEY WILL TAKE AND ACCESS THEIR THEIR MAP ASSESSMENT, AS THEY DID LAST YEAR LIKE STUDENTS THAT WERE LEARNING FROM HOME.
AND KATRINA, I DON'T KNOW IF I MISSED SOMETHING, SO PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN.
OK, SO BOARD, OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF ON EITHER FOR EITHER BETH OR THERESA, EITHER ONE.
I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.
I KNOW THAT CALL ON THURSDAY, WEREN'T SURE WHAT WERE GOING TO GET.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE ONLY GET CURVEBALLS REALLY ON THAT CALL.
SO THANK YOU TO YOU, SARA, THERESA AND YOUR TEAM FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN AND PROVIDING AN OPTION. THERE WERE A LOT OF PARENTS THAT WANTED A CHOICE, AND NOW WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER A CHOICE. SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
I DO WANT TO ASK ONE QUESTION JUST IN TERMS OF THE COTEACHING, IS THAT UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE TEA THAT SAYS WE CANNOT DO COTEACHING? YES, TEA GUIDANCE SAYS THAT EVEN FOR A STUDENT IN QUARANTINE, WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TEACH KIDS FACE TO FACE AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE TEACHING KIDS REMOTELY.
AND I'LL JUST ALSO SAY FROM PARENTS THAT I'VE TALKED TO RECENTLY.
THEIR ABILITY TO BE ON CAMPUS AND VOLUNTEER AND BE A PART OF PTA AND MEET WITH TEACHERS, THAT'S THE PART THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THAT THEY FEEL OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY MISSED OUT ON THAT LAST YEAR.
AND SO A LOT OF PARENTS WANTED ME TO ECHO THAT IN THIS MEETING ABOUT THAT.
AND ALSO JUST IN TERMS OF ASSIGNED SEATING ON BUSSES AND IN CAFETERIA, I SEE IT BEING NECESSARY RIGHT NOW. SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN HERE ARE FOR THE FIRST NINE WEEKS, SOME LOOK LIKE THEY'RE FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
SO I HOPE IF THE SITUATION ALLOWS THAT WE MIGHT REVISIT SOME OF THOSE ASSIGNED SEATING SITUATIONS. THAT WAY WE GIVE STUDENTS A LITTLE MORE FREEDOM SHOULD THE SITUATION ALLOW.
AND WE MET WITH PTA LAST WEEK, AND WE HAVE COMBINED OR JOINT GUIDELINES, AND SO THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME ACTIVITIES AND HAVE MORE ENGAGEMENT THAN THEY DID IN THE SPRING. SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION, BETH, THIS IS PROBABLY FOR YOU--SARA, MAYBE FOR YOU--BUT IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE I'VE REVIEWED THE CDC GUIDELINES FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR K THROUGH 12 AND OUTSIDE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING OF THREE FEET FOR EVERY STUDENT, WE ARE IN-LINE WITH CDC GUIDANCE.
CORRECT? THANK YOU. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MASKING, YES, AND THEY'RE RECOMMENDING THAT AND THAT'S THE LANGUAGE WE HAVE. YES, NO, WE ARE IN LINE WITH THEIR GUIDANCE.
THEIR GUIDANCE IS RECOMMENDATION OF MASKS.
[00:40:02]
YES, OK. MY OTHER LET'S SEE THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD, I THINK.THAT WAS I THINK THAT'S IT FOR MY QUESTIONS, OTHER QUESTIONS? BOARD? I HAVE A HANDFUL OF THINGS, AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT COMMENT, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS GUIDANCE DIRECTLY STATES ALL STUDENTS OLDER THAN TWO AND ALL SCHOOL STAFF SHOULD WEAR A FACEMASKS AT SCHOOL, UNLESS A MEDICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL CONDITION PROHIBITS USE.
SO AAP RECOMMENDS UNIVERSAL MASKING IN SCHOOLS AT THIS TIME FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
THEY LIST A REASON. A LOT OF REASONS, A LOT OF CITATIONS.
SO WHILE I APPRECIATE THAT THE CDC GUIDELINES RECOMMEND, I FEEL LIKE THE AAP, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS GUIDELINES DO GO FURTHER.
OK, SO FOR STUDENTS DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS OF COVID AT SCHOOL, IF THEY ARE BEING SCREENED BY A SCHOOL NURSE, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO OFFER THE STUDENT A MASK IS A PART OF THAT PROCEDURE? AS THEY MAY POTENTIALLY BE INFECTIOUS.
WILL THE NURSES BE DOING THAT WHEN THEY'RE SCREENING STUDENTS? SO NURSES WILL HAVE A SUPPLY OF MASKS IN THEIR OFFICE.
OK. UNVACCINATED STAFF MEMBERS DISPLAYING COVID-19 SYMPTOMS WILL FOLLOW DISTRICT PROTOCOLS, INCLUDING ISOLATION FROM STUDENTS AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS.
ON THE FIRST PAGE HERE, WE'RE SAYING THAT, UNVACCINATED AND VACCINATED PERSONS CAN SPREAD COVID-19 AND THEN ON THE SECOND PAGE, WE'RE HAVING TWO DIFFERENT STANDARDS FOR VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED STAFF MEMBERS.
AND SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY ALL STAFF MEMBERS DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 SHOULD NOT FOLLOW ISOLATION PROTOCOLS.
I WILL GO BACK AND DISCUSS THAT WITH OUR DIRECTOR FOR DISTRICT HEALTH SERVICES.
CAN I JUMP IN AND ASK A QUESTION? SURE. AND I JUST WANT TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THE REMOTE ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING FOR SPED STUDENTS WERE THEY STILL HAVE SOME FORM OF SERVICES WHEN THEY ASKED FOR IT? FOR LIKE SPEECH THERAPY? WE'RE STILL INVESTIGATING THAT.
RIGHT NOW, THE PROGRAM THAT WE'RE OFFERING IS ASYNCHRONOUS, NO VIRTUAL OR LIVE INSTRUCTION, OK? AND SO IF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS FAMILY WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, THEY WOULD NEED TO CALL AN ARD MEETING AND DISCUSS WAS IT AN APPROPRIATE PLACEMENT IN SERVICE FOR THE STUDENT AT THE TIME?
[5.1. Approval of Revised Health and Safety Protocols for the 2021 - 2022 School Year]
OK. AND IF IT WAS DETERMINED SO AND THEY STILL NEEDED, LET'S SAY, SPEECH THERAPY, THOSE HOURS WOULD BE MADE UP LATER WHEN THE STUDENT RETURNS IN-PERSON.OK, THANK YOU. ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS WE'VE GOTTEN FROM MULTIPLE PARENTS, AND I'LL ECHO PRESIDENT STOLLE'S COMMENTS THAT WE READ ALL OF YOUR EMAILS, WE HAVE GOTTEN MANY, OVER THE WEEKEND. ONE OF THE ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE'VE GOTTEN ROUTINELY IS IF PARENTS WANT TO BUY HEPA FILTERS FOR CLASSROOMS LIKE THE LITTLE STANDALONE UNITS AND DONATE THEM TO THEIR SCHOOLS, WILL THAT BE ALLOWED? YEAH, I MEAN, I DON'T SEE WHY WE WOULDN'T ACCEPT THEM NOW, AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE HAVEN'T REALLY DISCUSSED THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE LONG TERM COST OF THOSE IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
AND SO WE'VE GONE FROM MERVS SEVEN AND EIGHT NINE FILTERS TO MERV ELEVENS.
AND I MEAN, JUST THINKING HERE AT THE BOARD TABLE, GETTING HIT WITH THAT QUESTION, I WOULD THINK, YES, WE COULD PROBABLY ACCEPT THOSE AND KEEP THOSE IN PLACE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR.
OK. IN TERMS OF THE COST OF THE ASYNCHRONOUS VIRTUAL LEARNING AND, YOU KNOW, KEEPING A SEAT AT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE STUDENTS WE ARE NOT GETTING THE FUNDING FOR THOSE STUDENTS FOR THOSE DAYS, THAT THEY ARE NOT IN THE CLASSROOM OR ARE WE? THAT IS CORRECT.
OK, SO. SARA? SO WE ARE GETTING ZERO FUNDING, SO THIS VIRTUAL OPTION, THE DISTRICT IS INCURRING ALL COST ? YES. OK.
ALL RIGHT. CAN I JUST POINT OUT ON THAT, DR.
TARA, THAT LAST YEAR WE DID GET FUNDING FOR THE VIRTUAL.
WE DID GET A COUNT OF THOSE STUDENTS, AN AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE THAT IS AN ALLOWABLE FOR 21-22 BASED ON ON WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DID OR DIDN'T DO.
[00:45:02]
THERE WAS NO ACTION TO EXTEND THAT.DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THE POTENTIAL BUDGET IMPACT OF ALL OF THIS IS? SO I CAN GIVE YOU AN AVERAGE, SO A STUDENT THAT'S IN NO SPECIAL PROGRAMS WOULD GENERATE ABOUT SEVENTY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER YEAR.
THAT'S ABOUT 43 DOLLARS A DAY.
AND SO THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A REAL BIG NUMBER UNTIL YOU START MULTIPLYING THAT.
AND SO, I MEAN, ALL I COULD SAY IS ONE REGULAR STUDENT THAT'S NOT IN ANY SPECIAL PROGRAMS, THEY'RE NOT BILINGUAL ESL.
THEY'RE NOT AT RISK. THEY DON'T GENERATE ANY OF THE SPECIAL PROGRAMS. AND IF THAT STAYED IN PLACE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR WOULD BE ABOUT SEVENTY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. SO SIGNIFICANT COST TO THE DISTRICT TO PROVIDE THIS OPTION? IF YOU START TAKING SEVENTY FIVE HUNDRED, SEVERAL THOUSAND, WHATEVER THE NUMBER, IT WOULD BE A GUESS. IT WOULD BE SPECULATION AT THIS POINT.
BUT YES, YOU GET IN THE TEENS, 20S, 30S, 40 MILLIONS IN A HURRY.
ONE OF THE PIECES OF DATA I ASKED FOR AHEAD OF TIME FROM THE MEETING IS, IS VACCINE RATES BY ZIP CODE. AND A LOT OF OUR ZIP CODES, YOU KNOW, VACCINE RATES ARE ABOVE 70 PERCENT, 75024, 75025, 75093.
SEVERAL OF OUR OTHER ZIP CODES, 75093,IS ONE OF THE HIGH ONES, 75023, 75074, 75075 ARE BETWEEN 56 AND 60 PERCENT.
IF THE DISTRICT IS A VACCINE PROVIDER, ARE WE ABLE TO PROVIDE VACCINES FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS? ACROSS THE DISTRICT, ON CAMPUSES AND ARE WE DOING SOME OUTREACH IN THOSE ZIP CODES TO TRY AND GET PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN THOSE ZIP CODES VACCINATED? SO WE ARE AN APPROVED VACCINE PROVIDER FOR THE MODERNA VACCINE.
WE DID NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY FOR THE COLD STORAGE FOR THE PFIZER VACCINE.
WE HAVE PUT A QUERY BACK OUT TO STAFF BECAUSE, OF COURSE, WE HAVE NEW STAFF MEMBERS AT WHO MIGHT WANT A VACCINE AT THIS POINT AND ANYONE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLDS.
SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ASSESSING DO IS THERE ENOUGH INTEREST TO ORDER ANOTHER LOT OF VACCINES? MODERNA IS RIGHT NOW APPROVED FOR 18 AND OLDER.
AND WE ARE READY, IF THAT IS APPROVED, TO MAKE THAT AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, AS WELL. AND WE KNOW THAT PFIZER IS AVAILABLE NOW AT A MUCH YOUNGER AGE AND THEY ARE TRIALING THE FIVE YEAR OLD TO 11 YEAR OLD GROUP.
AND WE DO HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH US WHEN THAT IS APPROVED TO HELP US GET OUR KIDS VACCINATED AT PARENT REQUEST.
GREAT. AND THE COLLIN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS MAKING A VACCINE EFFORT, TOO, ARE THEY NOT? THE PARENTS CAN LEARN ABOUT? YES, THEY ARE, AND I THINK I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT BETH SAID IS WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE HOSPITAL PARTNERS REACH OUT TO US THAT WHEN VACCINES BECOME AVAILABLE, THEY WILL WORK WITH US AND WE WILL WORK WITH THEM.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION RELATED TO THAT.
IF WE HAVE, IF WE'RE LINING UP POTENTIAL TEACHERS FOR THIS VACCINE, THAT WE'RE THE PROVIDER FOR THE MODERNA.
AND ARE WE ALSO PUTTING A LIST TOGETHER FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED? OR I MEAN, THERE MIGHT BE SOME THAT ARE 18, BUT PROBABLY NOT MANY.
WE MADE THAT. WE CAN ABSOLUTELY MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE 18 ABOVE IN A PARENT COMMUNICATION.
SEVERAL. GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED HEALTH SYSTEMS LIKE PARKLAND AND UT MEDICAL BRANCH OF HOUSTON HAVE ASKED THE GOVERNOR FOR WAIVERS OR EXCEPTIONS TO CERTAIN PARTS OF HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER.
I'M WONDERING IF ANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE OR IF THAT'S SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, GIVEN THE , YOU KNOW, KIND OF EXTREME PARENT, WE'VE GOTTEN SO MANY EMAILS AND THE PARENTS SHOWING UP TO VISIT TODAY. SHOULD WE CONSIDER ASKING THE GOVERNOR FOR A WAIVER TO THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, OR SHOULD WE CONSIDER SENDING THE GOVERNOR A LETTER AND PASSING ON THE CONCERNS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE AND WHAT MY COLLEAGUES OPINIONS ON THAT ARE. I WOULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF SENDING A LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR AND INQUIRING ABOUT
[00:50:04]
THE WAIVER, BUT I'D ALSO LIKE TO HEAR WHAT STAFF MIGHT HAVE IN MIND.I ACTUALLY ENCOURAGE OUR PARENTS TO ALSO EMAIL THE GOVERNOR AND THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND THEIR STATE SENATOR AT THE SAME TIME.
NOW, WHETHER OR NOT I'M INTERESTED IN THE REMAINDER OF THE BOARD'S COMMENTS REGARDING ASKING THE GOVERNOR FOR A WAIVER.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE GRANTED ANY WAIVERS TODAY, CORRECT? I DON'T THINK SO. AND LET ME CLARIFY MY STATEMENTS A MOMENT AGO.
I WOULD ALSO I FEEL LIKE OUR BOARD SHOULD LET THE GOVERNOR KNOW WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS TELLING US.
THE NUMEROUS EMAILS, THE PARENTS COMING TO SPEAK TO US.
I THINK OUR GOVERNOR NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND AS ELECTED OFFICIALS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO MANAGE AND THE ABILITY TO, WE CAN'T MANDATE MASKS.
I MEAN, WE DON'T WANT TO GO AGAINST THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, BUT I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH LETTING HIM KNOW THAT WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE A MASK WAIVER IF IT WAS SO POSSIBLE.
BUT I'LL DEFER TO MY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.
MY COMMENT OR CONCERN SPECIFICALLY IS FOR THE CHILDREN WHO DON'T HAVE A VACCINE.
I MEAN, PEOPLE HAVE OPTIONS FOR 12 AND UP.
THEY CAN CHOOSE TO HAVE THE VACCINE OR NOT CHOOSE THE VACCINE.
WE HAVE CHILDREN IN OUR, UNDER OUR CARE WHO THE FAMILIES DON'T HAVE AN OPTION FOR.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, NO ONE WANTS TO FORCE ANYONE TO DO SOMETHING BEYOND THEIR WILL. BUT WE'VE GOT PEOPLE NOW, CHILDREN, WHO, THAT'S NOT AN OPTION.
SO I WOULD SAY IF WE DID ASK ANY REQUESTS, IT WOULD BE LIMITING TO THAT PIECE BECAUSE THAT PIECE IS WHERE THERE'S NOT AN OPTION.
12 AND UP HAVE AN OPTION, TAKE THE VACCINE OR DON'T TAKE THE VACCINE.
BUT OTHER KIDS DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION.
SO MY THOUGHT WOULD BE I'M A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR LOCAL CONTROL.
I WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH SIGNING ON TO REQUESTING A WAIVER THAT WOULD RETURN THE AUTHORITY TO THE BOARD TO MAKE THE DECISION ON A MASK MANDATE.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE JUST LIKE IN THE FALL OR NOT FALL INTO THE SPRING WITH THE TEA SAID IT WAS UP TO THE BOARD TO VOTE ON WHAT MATTERS POLICY FOR THEIR DISTRICT.
I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE ON US AS A BOARD TO VOTE ON THAT.
AND RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
YEAH, I'LL CHIME IN AND SAY, YOU KNOW, A PART OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE, THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING RIGHT NOW, A LARGE PART OF THOSE CHALLENGES ARE DUE TO THE FACT THAT LOCAL CONTROL HAS BEEN USURPED AT THE STATE LEVEL.
AND SO WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS HERE AT THIS BOARD TABLE THAT AFFECTS OUR FAMILIES DIRECTLY THAT WE HAD AT THIS EXACT SAME TIME LAST YEAR.
AND SO THIS IS JUST, THIS IS A COMMON THEME OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AS MORE POWER AND POWER HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CONSOLIDATED IN AUSTIN. AND SO THIS IS THE RESULT OF THAT SITUATION, IS THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE AUTHORITY TO TAKE ACTION TO THAT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR FAMILIES.
AND SO I WOULD SUPPORT ASKING FOR THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THIS AND OTHER DECISIONS AT OUR OWN BOARD TABLE.
AND I WOULD AGREE, WE ARE A LARGE STATE.
COMMUNITIES ARE VERY DIFFERENT, EVEN WITHIN OUR OWN COUNTY.
COMMUNITIES ARE VERY DIFFERENT AND THEY FACE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS. AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS AN ISSUE FOR US AS A DISTRICT THAT WE HAVE KIDS LIVING IN THE CITY OF DALLAS. AND NOW THAT THERE'S, THAT'S A DISCONNECT, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT'S LOCAL, I THINK IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
SO I WOULD CERTAINLY BE VERY IN FAVOR FOR US ASKING FOR THAT WAIVER FOR LOCAL CONTROL.
NOT A QUESTION, JUST I WOULD LIKE TO ECHO TRUSTEE WEAVER'S COMMENT.
I KNOW YOU ALL WORKED ALL WEEKEND AND YOU ALL WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD TO TRY AND ACCOMMODATE VIRTUAL AND I KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WORKING HARD AND AS THE SITUATION PROGRESSES.
SO I'LL JUST ECHO THAT THANK YOU.
FOR STUDENTS THAT HAVE A 504 THAT WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO HAVE A TEXTBOOK IF THEY'RE DOING THE ASYNCHRONOUS, WILL THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE TEXTBOOKS? YES.
OK, THANK YOU. WHICH ALSO INCLUDES OUR CHROME BOOKS, TOO, TEXTBOOKS, CHROME BOOKS AND
[00:55:05]
EVERYTHING ELSE. AND THEN I WANT TO SAY THAT I WOULD AGREE WITH DAVID ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL AND CODY THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE MORE CONTROL LOCALLY.I FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT, TOO.
LOOKS LIKE EVERYBODY HAS SAID THEIR OPINION AND IF WE ASK FOR A WAIVER, I THINK IT SHOULD BE JUST FOR FOR THE LOWER GRADES PRE-K TO SIXTH, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. AND WE AS A DISTRICT, I DO BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE A LEVEL OF LOCAL CONTROL. AND WE JUST FOUND OUT SUDDENLY, WE JUST HAVE NO POWER TO DO ANYTHING.
IT'S QUITE SAD, YEAH FRUSTRATING, TO SAY THE LEAST.
AND YEAH, I'M OKAY WITH ASKING FOR THE WAIVER, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, ASKING, I THINK PARENTS WHO HAVE THEIR OPINION SHOULD REALLY ALSO TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.
AND YEAH A LOT OF THINGS IS OUT OF CONTROL RIGHT NOW.
AND I'LL JUST ADD THAT THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE DID, I THINK, GAVEL IN AT 4:00 AND THEY WERE FIVE MEMBERS SHY OF QUORUM.
SO IN TERMS OF THE SPECIAL SESSION AND SOME OF OUR HOPES ABOUT VIRTUAL, THIS IS THE FIRST DAY OF, I THINK, A 30 DAY SESSION.
SO IT'S NOT COMPLETELY DASHED AT THIS POINT.
BUT MY HOPES ARE THAT THEY CAN ACHIEVE QUORUM TO GET THROUGH SOME OF THE BUSINESS THAT MAY RESULT IN FUNDING FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING.
FOLLOW UP TO THAT, WOULD IT ALSO MAKE SENSE TO ONCE WE KNOW OUR TOTAL ENROLLMENT AND A LETTER TO THE TEA ASKING TEA COMMISSIONER MIKE MORATH TO PLEASE RECONSIDER BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT MAYBE WE AND FRISCO AND DALLAS AND SOME OF THE OTHER DISTRICTS THAT ARE IMPLEMENTING VIRTUAL LEARNING WHILE TAKING A HUGE HIT TO PLEASE RECONSIDER, GIVEN THE IMPACT THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE ON OUR LONG TERM BUDGET.
I THINK WE HAVE THAT REQUEST IN ALREADY, BUT CERTAINLY WE CAN RE-EMPHASIZE THAT.
YEAH, AND I THINK THE COMMISSIONER'S AWARE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD THAT WE DISTRICTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE ARE WORRIED ABOUT ENROLLMENT AND CERTAINLY WE ALL SHOULD BE.
NO, AND IT'S NOT, THERE ARE VERY FEW DISTRICTS THAT ARE DOING ANY VIRTUAL OPTION, TEACHER LED OR PARENT-LED THIS YEAR.
IT'S NOT YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST HERE.
AND FOR THE REASONS OF IS THAT IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO DO.
AND DISTRICTS JUST DON'T HAVE INFINITE RESOURCES.
AND I'M NOT, PLEASE DON'T TAKE THAT AS AN EXCUSE, BUT THERE'S A REALITY TO HOW MANY TEACHERS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TEACHERS, LIKE RIGHT NOW AND THEN HOUSE BILL 4545 IS ON TOP OF THAT, WHICH IS A REQUIRED TUTORING LAW THAT JUST WENT INTO PLAY.
AND I MEAN, THERE'S JUST, IT'S VERY COMPLICATED.
AND AGAIN, PLEASE DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, BUT THOSE ARE LAWS AND THOSE ARE REALITIES. AND WE'RE GOING TO WORK, DO OUR BEST TO COMPLY WITH ALL OF THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSIONER KNOWS THAT WE ARE ALL GOING TO FACE ENROLLMENT FUNDING SHORTFALLS THIS FALL. JUST LIKE WERE LOOKING AT LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME WITH.
ALL ACROSS THE STATE, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT HAVING THE SAME OPTIONS THAT WERE ABLE TO PUT IN PLACE LAST YEAR, AND PEOPLE WILL CHOOSE TO KEEP THEIR KIDS HOME OR FIND OTHER OPTIONS WHERE THEY CAN KEEP THEIR KIDS SAFE AND IF THAT'S WHAT THEY FEEL COMPELLED TO DO.
AND SO, HE WAS VERY AWARE THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS FUND, THE BUDGET WAS SET BY THE STATE FOR SCHOOLS.
JUST REALIZE THAT AND IF KIDS DON'T COME TO SCHOOL, THEY DON'T PAY US, THEY KEEP THE MONEY. SO JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT TRYING TO PICK A FIGHT WITH THE STATE, BUT WE ALL MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THERE'S WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THIS GAME OF FUNDING AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS KEEP LOSING.
IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WINNERS AND LOSERS, I WANT TO SEE THE MASK MANDATE DOES THE SAME.
[01:00:02]
THERE WILL BE WINNERS AND LOSERS AND THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO, IF YOU HAVE A MANDATE WHO WILL SUFFER. I MEAN, I HAVE TO SAY, NOT LIKE EVERYBODY IS FOR THE MANDATE.I MEAN, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SUFFER MENTAL CRISIS BECAUSE OF IT.
AND I PERSONALLY SUFFER HEART PALPITATIONS.
AND WHEN I PUT THE MASK LONGER FOR 20 MINUTES AND I GUESS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT LIKE PEOPLE ARE MAKING UP THINGS.
THEY ARE KIDS HAVING HEADACHE AT THE END OF THE DAY THAT'S REAL.
AND THAT KIDS CANNOT SEE THE TEACHER'S FACE OR THEY CAN'T ALL LEARN EFFECTIVELY.
THAT'S THAT REALLY HURTS THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION.
THAT'S ALSO REAL. I DON'T WANT TO UNDERMINE THAT.
THANK YOU, PLEASE. BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR AWAY FROM THE RECOMMENDATION OR THE REQUEST THAT WE SEND A LETTER, I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE SOMETHING AND SEE IF THE WILL THE BOARD WOULD SUPPORT THIS. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WOULD REQUIRE FORMAL MOTION.
OUR LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DRAFT LETTERS AND SEND LETTERS SUCH AS THIS. AND SO I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO DO THAT, BECAUSE IN THE ABSENCE OF TIME, BECAUSE WE WANT THIS, WE WANT IT OUT QUICKLY AS EVERYBODY EVERYBODY ON BOARD WITH THAT? I'M ON THE COMMITTEE. I'M FINE WITH THAT.
OK, SO LET'S CHARGE THE SUBCOMMITTEE WITH CRAFTING AND PRESENTING THE LETTER.
AND YEAH, WE'LL GET TRICIA AS WELL ACTIVE ON THAT.
YEAH. I JUST HAVE ONE LAST THING.
DAVID STOLLE'S COMMENT BASED ON WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT SARA DO YOU ANTICIPATE THEN THAT WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER MOVEMENT TO HOLD HARMLESS? I MEAN THAT'S, I WAS JUST.
THAT IS WHAT WE RAISED LAST WEEK.
IS THE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AGAIN? OK, THANK YOU. OK, WELL I GUESS THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION, TOO, THEN.
ALL RIGHT, ANYTHING ELSE ANYBODY? ALL RIGHT, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEE APPROVES THE REVISIONS TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR THE 2021 2022 SCHOOL YEAR AS PRESENTED.
I SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY ANGELA POWELL, SECOND BY JERI CHAMBERS THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVES THE REVISIONS TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR THE 2021 2022 SCHOOL YEAR AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE WILL NOW PROCEED TO VOTE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
MR. STAFFORD? IF YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT, YOU HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO DO SO .IF YOU WOULD, IF YOU SAY ANOTHER WORD, SIR, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO LEAVE.
DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEM 5.2 PERTAINS TO THE APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGARDING ADDITIONAL LEAVE FOR COVID-19 ILLNESS FOR EMPLOYEES.
DR. BROCKMAN? THANK YOU. I'M BRINGING THIS FORWARD THIS EVENING OUT OF THE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES WHO MAY TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID AND BE REQUIRED THEN TO ISOLATE, QUARANTINE FOR 10 DAYS.
AS YOU KNOW, MANY OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE NEW TO OUR ORGANIZATION.
AT LAST COUNT, IT'S ABOUT 425 TEACHERS, NEVER MIND ALL THE OTHER EMPLOYEES.
AND WHEN AN EMPLOYEE IS NEW TO AN ORGANIZATION THEY OFTEN DO NOT HAVE OR BRING WITH THEM VERY MUCH LEAVE TIME.
WE DO NOT WANT TO CREATE A SITUATION WHERE EMPLOYEES WILL NOT GET TESTED OR KEEP THOSE TEST RESULTS TO THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH LEAVE TO BE GONE FOR 10 DAYS.
AND WE KNOW THAT IT DOES BECOME A FINANCIAL BURDEN.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE BOARD CONSIDER ACTION ON A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO EXTEND TEN DAYS OF COVID ADMIN LEAVE TO AN EMPLOYEE WHO TESTS POSITIVE.
YEAH, NO, GO AHEAD. FIRST QUESTION WAS GOING TO BE, ARE WE GOING TO BE PROVIDING ANY TYPE OF, LIKE RAPID TESTING ON CAMPUSES? CAN WE OR DO WE HAVE PARTNERS THAT ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT FOR TEACHERS WHO MAY HAVE A CONCERN AND WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTARILY BE TESTED? WE DECLINED THE RAPID TESTING OPTION LAST YEAR DUE TO CONCERNS WITH THE EFFICACIOUS? THE SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY? YES, THANK YOU. WE FEEL THAT THEY NEED TO GET AN ACTUAL PCR TEST.
OK, SO DO WE HAVE COMMUNITY HEALTH PARTNERS THAT WE'RE SENDING THEM TO TO DO THAT?
[01:05:04]
WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE.SO IT WE HAVE A IN OUR HEALTH SERVICES INFORMATION.
WE HAVE LISTED A NUMBER OF PLACES SO IT COULD BE CLOSER TO THEIR HOME RATHER THAN CLOSE TO THEIR WORKSPACE.
AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANY CONSIDERATION IN THIS FOR IF A TEACHER HAS A CLOSE CONTACT THAT HAS TESTED POSITIVE, PARTICULARLY IF IT'S SOMEONE IN THE TEACHER'S HOME, LIKE A CHILD OR A SPOUSE? IF THEY TEST NEGATIVE, BUT THEY HAVE SOMEONE IN THEIR HOME THAT'S POSITIVE.
AND SO THEY'RE KIND OF RISKY RIGHT NOW, WE DO NOT.
SO I HAD A QUESTION JUST IN TERMS OF FIRST.
I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THIS AND I AGREE WITH THIS AND I'M GLAD THIS IS BEING BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD TONIGHT.
SOME TEACHERS MAY BE ASYMPTOMATIC, SOME TEACHERS MAY, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT MAYBE ALREADY HAVE THE VACCINE, AND SO THEY WON'T BE SUFFERING THROUGH SYMPTOMS OR IF THEY ARE, THEY ABSOLUTELY NEED THE TIME TO RECOVER.
BUT IS THERE THE OPTION OF THE POSSIBILITY IF THE TEACHERS IN THE CONDITION, AND WANTS TO, FOR THEM TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF VIRTUAL SYNCHRONOUS COMPONENT WITH THE SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, THAT WAY THEY'RE STILL ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR STUDENTS IF THEY WANT TO DO THAT? WHILE OUR EMPHASIS IS THAT A TEACHER WHO'S FEELING EVEN SLIGHTLY ILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND GET WELL.
SURE. BUT ABSOLUTELY, IF THEY'RE FEELING WELL AND WE KNOW THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY ARE FEELING PENT UP HOUSEBOUND AND PLEASE GIVE ME SOMETHING TO DO WHERE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE LESSON PLANS AND INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANCE TO THE SUBSTITUTE THAT IS IN THE CLASSROOM TO BEST EASE THAT TRANSITION.
AND I KNOW WE HAVE EXCELLENT SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS, BUT ALSO WE HAVE TEACHERS THAT ALSO CARE A LOT AS WELL.
SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT IT WILL ALSO BENEFIT THE STUDENTS TO STILL HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR TEACHER IF THE TEACHER IS IN A CONDITION AND WILLING TO DO SO.
WE JUST NEED TO REALLY EMPHASIZE PRIORITY NUMBER ONE IS GET WELL.
OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM.
WE HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVES THE RESOLUTION OF THE PLANO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGARDING ADDITIONAL LEAVE FOR COVID-19 ILLNESS FOR EMPLOYEES.
SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION BY NANCY HUMPHREY, A SECOND BY DR.
LAUREN TARA, THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVES THE RESOLUTION OF THE PLANO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGARDING ADDITIONAL LEAVE FOR COVID-19 ILLNESS FOR EMPLOYEES. IS THERE FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, IT'S TIME TO VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, 7-0.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER BUSINESS OR ANY OBJECTIONS FROM THE BOARD, THE MEETING WILL BE ADJOURNED. THE TIME IS 7:46 P.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.