Helps offset closure time loss
As a result of North Hopkins ISD’s closure earlier in the year, the board of trustees adopted additional school calendar minutes, pushing back the first bell to 7:50 a.m. in a move superintendent Brian Lowe hopes to help social distancing measures.
Most of the high school and elementary students are on campus by that point, Lowe said, and instead of milling about for extra minutes, students now can head to their appropriate classes.
The board also approved a resolution regarding employee compensation during emergency school closures, which will be more open-ended than previously resolution usually done after each closure. Lowe said the resolution will likely be left in the policy indefinitely as emergency closures not only apply to COVID-related emergencies but also weather disasters.
As for the earlier closure, Lowe believed it has helped attendance numbers. At the time of the closure, the district was seeing only 86% of enrolled students attending, and that number jumped to 94% post-closure. Ninety percent is considered minimum, and 95% or above is where most local districts hover during typical years.
An interlocal agreement with Hopkins County was also approved by the board. According to Lowe, this agreement is similar to mutual aid as both parties will offer space or transportation to each other in times of need, and an agreement like this had been set up during the first waves of COVID-19.
Now with COVID-19 cases rocketing up, the agreement will again be in use. Lowe said it is beneficial to both the county and school and “good to have help” when needed most.
In other reports, new striping has been applied to the parking lots, and cafeteria repairs are being made. The district is also making progress into their agreement with Clean Energy. Lowe said they are about a third through the timeline.
Lowe also hoped to see more campus-level celebrations named Priceless Panthers where the campus recognizes someone who works there.