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From left, board member Brian Lewis, president Sherry Smiddy and secretary Vicki Ferrell look over board packets at the Monday night board meeting. Staff photo by Todd Kleiboer
Missed day waivers should keep calendar on schedule
As Winter Storm Uri swept through Texas, blasting arctic air and leaving millions without power or water, most school districts had to shut down, including all Hopkins County schools. While most returned to normal Monday, North Hopkins and Sulphur Bluff ISDs were left high and dry as water availability was inconsistent, forcing them to stay closed.
Despite all the curveballs thrown at Texas school districts this year, NHISD superintendent Dr. Darin Jolly felt like the Texas Education Agency “has been more willing to listen and sense needs” than he has ever seen.
“I think that’s some silver lining to the pandemic,” Jolly said at Monday night board meeting. “I think they have really made a good effort. TEA used to seem distant and cold sometimes.”
NHISD returned to normal hours Tuesday, but due to the active boil water advisory issued by the North Hopkins Water Supply Corporation, bottled water was provided. Students were encouraged to bring their own if able.
Even though NHISD missed all of last week and Monday, Jolly said the bad weather days scheduled for March and April are secure if the district is granted a missed day waiver. The outlook on that possibility is good, according to Jolly.
“They typically do that in hurricane areas or areas where there’s a mess,” Jolly said.
Jolly also speculated the complications arising from the winter storm will “help the argument towards not having STAAR testing,” a talking point that has been brought through the school year.
TEA announced in December that schools will not be held accountable for its students’ scores, but it still imposed the test, stating it “will allow schools, teachers and parents to see how individual students are performing.”
While Jolly agrees testing could be used as a measurement, he said the year had been tough on both students and teachers, citing “low energy” among students. The toll of pandemic is felt statewide, he added.
“I met with [state senator] Bob Hall a few weeks back, and I said to Bob that this is the year that y’all need to give every educator two services year of credit,” Jolly said in joking. “Because this felt like two years.”