Board okays UIL play for homeschoolers
By Melinda L. Lucas
One new teacher was hired and a resignation accepted during a regular meeting of the Albany ISD board of trustees on Monday, July 26, a week later than usual because of the lack of a quorum on the previous Monday.
The board also spent a good portion of the 2-1/2 hour session discussing a new state bill that allows public school districts to decide if homeschool students can participate in the district’s UIL activities.
Other items on the lengthy agenda included a look at preliminary tax values and the first draft of the 2021-2022 budget, an explanation of legislation that requires accelerated instruction in response to “loss of learning,” and how special funding could be utilized.
NSES Teacher Hired
In light of the resignation earlier this month of elementary teacher Whitney Bennett, the board approved a probationary contract for Brittani Lefevre.
Superintendent Jonathan Scott reported that Kay Oliver has been hired as a paraprofessional to facilitate the NSES speech therapy program, which will be provided remotely since the Tri-County Co-op was unable to hire a new speech pathologist.
Scott also mentioned that the AISD staff was complete and in place for the upcoming school year.
Homeschool Students
Scott summarized House Bill 547, which allows homeschooled students to participate in UIL athletics or academics.
Although board action is not required, Scott felt that it was important for the trustees to be involved in the decision. He added that the latest UIL update stated that notification has to be received from districts by Aug. 1 in order for any homeschool student to be able to play varsity athletics. Sub-varsity decisions could be made later, he explained.
Several concerns were addressed, including the fact that although grades in light of “no pass no play” would be provided by parents, participants would have to show competency by passing a standardized test at the beginning of the school year.
Behavior issues and discipline would fall under the jurisdiction of the school’s extracurricular code of conduct.
Students must live in the district, and the school’s attendance numbers are not affected by those students.
Other opinions and concerns listed by board members included offering homeschool students otherwise unavailable opportunities to participate in team athletics and academic events, cost of equipment for participating homeschool students, how move-ins and move-outs would be handled, and whether allowing participation would affect future public school attendance.
Eventually, on a motion by Joe Tidwell and second by board president Robert Montgomery, the decision was made to allow qualified homeschooled students to participate in UIL extracurricular activities for a one-year trial period, to be reevaluated after this school year. The vote was 4-0, with two abstentions and one board member excusing himself.
Budget Information
Scott reviewed preliminary tax values, which show a decline from about $335M to $331M, less than he had anticipated.
Even in light of the “compressed tax rate,” Scott is optimistic about the final budget figures, which he hopes will be “in the black” for the first time in several years.
He also talked about how ESSER funding and the special Teacher Incentive Allotment spending Plan could be used.
Scott has applied for a grant that will provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students for the next year, but in case the grant is not approved, the board set meal prices for the 2021-2022 school year.
Other Business
•Handbooks and the Student Code of Conduct were approved.
•Scott recommended that short and long range plans be developed to improve facilities, with the elementary gym and secondary ag shop both priorities.
•Scott is working on a “State of the School” graphic that will show AISD’s accomplishments and advancements over the last school year.
