BURTON SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSES EXPECTED IN-PERSON/REMOTE STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Burton ISD is currently expecting roughly three quarters of its student body to seek on-campus instruction versus remote learning in the fall.
Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy provided an update to the Burton School Board at its meeting Monday, where she went over the early results of the proposed instructional arrangement survey given to parents.
The survey, which closes Thursday, currently indicates there are 122 students—77 elementary and 45 high school—that would prefer remote learning to on-campus learning. As of May, the district was planning to start the new school year with 477 students, so that would mean there are 355 students who are making plans for on-campus learning.
Dr. Kennedy said the amount of students seeking remote learning is “a pretty large number”, and stressed that schools and staff need to be ready to push out online curriculum and provide hot spots to students that need them. She stated the district has purchased 75 hot spots and is currently allocating 23 to high school students and 12 to elementary school students. Hot spots will also be given to teachers who may need them should they go remote.
Dr. Kennedy said the district’s remote learning plan in the fall will be more “structured and strenuous” than this past spring, as the district has had more time to set up remote learning and push out the proper information to students and parents. She said teachers will be expected to make sure their remote students are actively attending, involved in activities, and making progress.
Dr. Kennedy hopes that once parents see how “rigorous” the remote learning process will be, they will bring their children back for on-campus instruction, which she said was the district’s “preferred method”. Board President Demetrius Colvin noted that once students choose from on-campus or remote learning, they will not be able to change their instruction method until the start of the next six-week grading period.
Click here to view Burton ISD's reopening plan.
Also at Monday's meeting, the board:
- Approved the Operation Connectivity interlocal acquisition agreement with the Region IV Education Service Center for technology purchases. Kennedy said through this interlocal agreement, Region IV and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) are allowing the district to have matching funds for devices based on its economically disadvantaged status.
- Held a budget workshop.
- Approved the 2020-21 staff compensation plan, as well as the hiring of a district nurse.
- Approved a board policy update affecting local policies.