Plans driven by COVID

By Melinda L. Lucas

Albany ISD trustees had a better idea about how the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year will look after their Monday night meeting.

Superintendent Jonathan Scott reviewed the plan being developed by local administrators, but stated that it hadn’t been finalized as of Monday.

“We are trying to roll out plans, even though it feels like we’re starting over just about every day,” Scott said. “TEA finally released online instruction guidelines a couple of weeks ago, but we’re still waiting on guidance to get back on campus.”

He added that everyone’s frustration level is high, and he encouraged board members to stay positive.

“We’re going to make the best of this situation, and it’s going to be okay,” Scott said. “If we have a positive attitude, it will trickle down through the staff to parents to students.”

The board authorized Scott to submit the letter of intent, then the instructional plan, once it’s finalized, as required by TEA.

The superintendent emphasized that students and parents need to know that the remote learning process, should they choose that option or if there is another shutdown, will not be the same as it was in the spring. 

Most of the other board action was also COVID-related, with student handbooks and the code of conduct updated in such areas as off-site attendance, remote learning, making up work, etc.

The board amended the handbook to reflect that AISD will require in-person class attendance for students who choose to participate in any UIL activities.

Other Business

•Trustees took a first look at the preliminary budget and agreed to a special workshop before the next regular meeting.

•A resolution was passed asking the state to suspend Texas school districts’ accountability to the state, allowing “districts to focus on interventions necessary to recover instructional gaps resulting from school closures caused by COVID-19.”