EDUCATIONHIGHLIGHTS CONROE ISD Superintendent Curtis Null said Conroe ISD had entered COVID-19 safety alert Level 4 as of Jan. 13. The safety alert Level 4 response and mitigation includes limited large gatherings, postponed activities, enhanced cleaning protocols, limited outside guests and availability to personal protective equipment. Null said all CISD schools are equipped with integrated viral protection air cleaning systems in cafeterias. In addition, smaller air cleaning units are located throughout the schools. CISD was previously at alert Level 3, which indicates a lower level of danger to students and staff. TOMBALL ISD Following voter approval of a $494.46 million bond package in November, new Tomball ISD facilities and renovations are anticipated to get underway in 2022, including the relocation of Tomball Star Academy, the district’s early college high school program. Housed at Tomball High School, Tomball Star Academy will relocate to the district’s Tomball Innovation Center at 11211 FM 2920, which will be renovated using funds included in the bond package. Trustees on Jan. 11 authorized Superintendent Martha Salazar- Zamora to spend up to $12.6 million to relocate Tomball Star Academy and launch new career and technical education pathways. The Conroe ISD board of trustees will meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 15 at 3205 W. Davis St., Conroe. 936-709-7752. www.conroeisd.net The Magnolia ISD board of trustees will meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 14 and March 21 at 11659 FM 1488, Magnolia. 281-356-3571. www.magnoliaisd.org The Tomball ISD board of trustees will meet at 5:30 p.m. March 8 at 310 S. Cherry St., Tomball. 281-357-3100. www.tomballisd.net MEETINGSWE COVER
District strategizes for possible future substitute shortage
BY ALLY BOLENDER
meeting. The new pay rate went into effect Jan. 2. By increasing the substitute daily pay rate, the district will be able to provide needed coverage when teachers are absent, district officials previously said. “We push and fight hard every day to make sure we can stay open,” Null said. “It’s not a promise I can make tonight, but I can promise you that we will do all that we can, and at the same time, we will not be irrespon- sible with that decision. If we reach a point where it is unsafe for us to open our schools, then we will make that decision to close, and [we will] understand the consequences that come with that.”
CONROE ISD Employee isolations due to COVID-19 in Con- roe ISD had increased as of mid-January, but Superintendent Curtis Null said the number of isolated students was not as high when compared to the isolation numbers in August. According to the CISD COVID-19 dashboard, 125 employees were in isolation on Feb. 10, but the number was as high as 630 isolations on Jan. 15. Isolations refer to the separations of those who sick. “This spike is significant, but it is not to the same level as the spike that was at the beginning of the school year for our students,” Null said during a Jan. 13 live video update. “This spike is really centered on our employees.” Null said district or school closures would be triggered by staff availability. On Jan. 13, there was a 62% substitute teacher fill rate with 235 unfilled positions. To alleviate staff shortages, Null said qualified employees in the CISD office will help substitute in classrooms. “Tomorrow, we have over 900 employees who have already input their absences into our system. Over 750 of those employees need substitute teachers. We will not have 750 substitute teachers tomorrow,” Null said on Jan. 13. The CISD board of trustees unanimously voted to increase substitute teacher pay by $10 a day during a Nov. 16 regular
ISOLATION SNAPSHOT Information current as of Feb. 10
Students Employees
Highest number of positive COVID-19 reports by day:
490
Jan. 18 Jan. 18
93
Highest number of isolated individuals :
2,646
Jan. 20 Jan. 15
631
SOURCE: CONROE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Conroe ISDapproves 2022-23 school calendar
Calendar set for 2022-23 Several holiday breaks are included in the 2022-23 school year calendar. Aug. 10 First day of school for students Nov. 21-25 Thanksgiving break Dec. 19-Jan. 3 Winter break March 13-20 Spring break May 25 Last day of school for students
BY ALLY BOLENDER
The 175-instructional day cal- endar will see students begin the fall semester Aug. 10, and the 2023 spring semester will conclude on May 25. Breaks are scheduled for Thanks- giving, winter holidays and spring break. According to the district, two inclement weather days are built into the calendar. For more information regarding the approved calendar for 2022- 23, visit the district’s website at www.conroeisd.net/calendars.
CONROE ISD The 2022-23 school year calendar was approved by the Conroe ISD board of trustees at its Jan. 18 meeting. The schedule was developed through a district-level planning committee with community input. According to district officials, the approved calendar received the highest percentage of positive feed- back among three calendar options included in district’s calendar survey for families to consider.
SOURCE: CONROE ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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