CUMBY—The Cumby ISD school board discussed their May bond election, teacher contracts and the continuing school shutdown, among other items of business at their regular March meeting held Tuesday.
The board first held a work session at 6:06 p.m. and entered into executive session from 6:08 to 6:28 p.m. to discuss facilities and personnel. The work session adjourned at 6:59 p.m.
The regular session began at 7:03 p.m. The invocation was given by Cumby Mayor Doug Simmerman and the pledge of allegiance was given by Superintendent Shelly Slaughter.
No citizens were present for public comment, and no students were present for awards and recognition.
The board discussed and unanimously voted to move their May 2 bond election to Nov. 3.
The board engaged in a discussion with Simmerman regarding community concerns and action plan during school closure due to COVID-19. The board voted unanimously to keep the school closed through April 10, with the hopes of returning April 13.
All teacher and teacher/coach contracts were unanimously approved to continue for the 2021 school year.
The school board noted that main concerns during the shutdown was that students continue to receive an education. Slaughter noted that students with access to technology have been participating in an online learning platform called Zoom, and paper packets have been available for pickup and drop-off in the main hallways of the elementary and high schools.
Teachers have been on-site to monitor that students did not enter the building at numbers of more than 10 at a time, Slaughter stated. The school has been working with CumbyTel, she said, to try to guarantee a wider group of students has internet access to their schoolwork rather than relying on paper.
Slaughter also stated that “as much, if not maybe more” cleaning and sanitizing has been ongoing in the school buildings since students have been home.
With no further business the meeting was adjourned at 8:42 p.m.