Plano South | October 2022

CITY HIGHLIGHTS PLANO ISD New employees hired during the rst half of the school year will get a one-time stipend as part of the district’s recruitment and retention eorts. The board of trustees voted unanimously Oct. 3 to extend the district’s previously approved stipend to employees hired between Sept. 1-Dec. 31. The extension, which will cost about $150,000, was needed “due to a continued high level of vacancies,” according to supporting information provided to the board. New teachers, nurses and librarians will receive a $1,000 stipend, and all other eligible employees will receive $500, according to the district. Plano City Council meets at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 and Nov. 14. Meetings are held at 1520 K Ave., Plano, and can be streamed online. 972-941-7000. www.plano.gov MEETINGS WE COVER Plano ISD board of trustees meets at 6 p.m. Oct. 18 and Nov. 1 at the PISD Administration Center, 2700 W. 15th St., Plano. 469-752-8100. www.pisd.edu

New training facility mimics real-world situations for Plano Fire-Rescue crews

Enrollment drops at Virtual Academy

BY VALERIE WIGGLESWORTH

BY ANDREW NORSWORTHY

PLANO ISD The school district’s Virtual Academy has seen a steep decline in enrollment for the 2022-23 school year as students returned to regular classes. The academy this year has 60 students enrolled in kindergarten through fth grade, according to data released at the Oct. 3 Plano ISD board meeting. That is down from the more than 1,100 academy students enrolled in October 2021. Steve Ewing, executive director for school leadership and innova- tion, told the board the academy’s decline in enrollment was expected. The academy began in response to the pandemic, he said. “We needed options for our families,” he said. Ewing said the decrease was mainly because parents returned to work or wanted more in-person social interactions and learning for their students.

PLANO City re ocials showed o their new $15 million re training facility on Sept. 30 that has been two years in the making. The new facility at 4637 McDermott Road allows training that simulates real emergencies, rescue operations and buildings found in the city. Fireghters are also able to practice situations, such as solar panel res, kitchen res, home res, ooding, collapsed structures and more. “It gives us the ability to do the realistic training that we have not had before here in Plano,” Plano Fire-Res- cue Lt. Daniel Daly said. “It gives us the opportunity to focus a little bit on some of our technical rescues as well.” The facility also features a six-story tower with each oor representing a dierent emergency environment, such as that of a hotel lobby, a high- rise apartment building, an oce environment and elevators.

A reghting crew practices at the new training facility in Plano.

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6700 Communications Parkway, Plano Independence (PS–1) (469) 642-2000 10145 Independence Parkway, Plano

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PLANO SOUTH EDITION • OCTOBER 2022