Round Rock | Pflugerville | Hutto Edition - December 2020

EDUCATION BRIEFS

News from Round Rock, Pugerville & Hutto ISDs

Pugerville ISD approves changes to academic calendar

RoundRock ISDnames acting superintendent

BY KELSEY THOMPSON ROUND ROCK ISD The board of trustees named Daniel Pres- ley as the acting superintendent of schools, according to a Nov. 30 RRISD news release. The appointment comes following Steve Flores’ Nov. 13 resignation as RRISD superintendent.

“This year has presented the most challenging circumstances for public education in our lifetime, and I am committed to providing steady leadership during this transition,” Presley said in the release. Presley brings more than 30 years of experience in schools throughout Texas and

Louisiana.

Previously, Presley served as RRISD’s senior chief of

BY KELSEY THOMPSON

schools and innovation,

Daniel Presley

PFLUGERVILLE ISD The board of trustees voted Nov. 5 to approve four adjustments to the 2020-21 academic year calendar. Chief Academic and Innovation Ocer Brandy Baker said the changes will provide additional planning time for teachers. During planning days, teachers will develop instructional materials, host parent-teacher confer- ences and analyze student work. The changes result decrease instruction by 1,305 minutes for the spring semester. Jan. 4 will switch from a professional learning day to a planning day with no decrease in instructional minutes. Other changes include a transition from an instructional day to a planning day, where students will not attend classes. The changes decrease instructional minutes by 435 minutes on Feb. 12, March 12 and April 5. “We expect that teachers will feel less stressed and will have time to attend to eective instruc- tional planning,” Baker said.

which oversees superinten- dents, health, ne arts and athletics.

TEA allows school closures for COVID19 concerns

BY DANICA LLOYD

TEXAS Schools statewide now have the power to temporarily suspend on-campus instruction if a signicant number of the sta is impacted due to a COVID-19 outbreak, according to new guidelines released Nov. 19 by the Texas Education Agency. Under the TEA guidelines, schools can oer exclusively remote instruction for up to 14 days if too many educators are aected by COVID-19 to sta the school. “A 14-day period would allow for enough time

RRISD closed Stony Point High School Nov. 1630.

for the virus incubation period to be completed,” TEA ocials stated. Schools can also instate a hybrid instructional model, as needed.

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