BURTON ISD MAY SOON LIFT MASK REQUIREMENTS
The wearing of masks may soon become optional in Burton ISD.
During her report to the Burton School Board at its meeting Monday, Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy said she plans to put an item on the agenda for next month’s meeting to discuss leaving mask-wearing at the discretion of students and staff. She said she wanted to put the matter before the board to discuss before end-of-school-year events begin next month.
Dr. Kennedy said while there are five elementary school students that are in quarantine through April 19th due to exposure, there have been no positive COVID-19 cases in the district “for a very long time.” Currently, out of the district’s 84 staff, 69 have been vaccinated.
Bellville ISD lifted its mask requirements on Monday, while districts such as Lexington ISD did so in March.
Also at Monday’s meeting, trustees tabled action on a potential increase in prekindergarten tuition costs. Dr. Kennedy said the current cost of $350 per month per student—for students that are not eligible for the program—has not been adjusted for several years. She proposed, after researching the rates of surrounding areas, to institute a gradual increase starting at $400 per month.
Trustees agreed that now is not the time for a cost increase, citing a potential burden on families. Dr. Kennedy said the matter can be readdressed before the start of the next school year, as well as potentially introducing an employee discount and multi-child discount.
Dr. Kennedy also announced that campuses will be open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., to allow visitors to the Cotton Gin Festival and Burton alumni baseball game to come look at the district’s facilities. In addition, she said work has begun on a website containing information on the district’s facilities planning. She said the website, which is a work in progress, is designed to help the public better understand what the district’s facility needs are.
Also on Monday, trustees approved:
- Burton Special Services Cooperative contracts, including contracts for Special Education Service Cooperative Director Kristi Hess, Educational Diagnostician Holly Horton, and Speech/Language Pathologist Michelle Ketrick.
- Teacher contracts for Burton Elementary School and Burton High School.
- A proposal for the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Risk Management Fund’s new comprehensive coverage program.
- The instructional materials allotment and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) certification for 2021-22.
- Designating Lightspeed as the provider of the district’s internet content filter.
- A board resolution extending a depository contract for funds.
- Budget amendments for 2020-21.
Finally some common sense. Let’s get back to normal and let all people, children, and adults live in freedom and liberty and make decisions for themselves.