Hutto ISD plans to offer a virtual class option for students in third to 12th grades for the 2021-2022 school year, pending legislative approval, Superintendent Celina Estrada Thomas said during Hutto ISD’s board of trustees meeting March 25.
Due to requests for access to a virtual option from school districts throughout the state, the Texas Education Agency has created an application process and will only select a certain amount of districts, Estrada Thomas said. A virtual option for kindergarten through second grade is also a possibility.
The district is planning for the largest summer school operation it has ever had to combat any learning loss due to the pandemic, Estrada Thomas said. These operations will be held at Hutto High School, Kerley Elementary School and Howard Norman Elementary School. Middle school students will go to Hutto High School for the summer school learning operations, she said.
At this time, no changes will be made to COVID-19-related safety measures such as social distancing and mask-wearing. The district is continuously reviewing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Williamson County and Cities Health District recommendations as the district looks to ease restrictions, Estrada Thomas said.
As of March 22, Hutto ISD’s COVID-19 dashboard reflects one active case from a staff member and zero active from students, she said.
The board of trustees passed two motions, 5-1 both times, to approve the guaranteed maximum price for renovations of Hutto Memorial Stadium, Hutto Middle School and Farley Middle School. Board member Edgar Padilla was absent from the meeting, and board Secretary Morgan Hubbard voted in opposition.
A guaranteed maximum price is the cap on the amount a project costs.
This is the second guaranteed maximum price approved for renovations of Hutto Memorial Stadium with the first approved Jan. 28 at more than $5 million. The second price is more than $10 million, making the total project maximum price $15.86 million, Burton Hackney with Joeris General Contractors said.
The first maximum price covered initial demolition, site work and procurement of steel. With approval of the second maximum price, the project can move on to mechanical and plumbing work as soon as possible, he said.
Renovations of Hutto Memorial Stadium will include additional seating, concessions and restrooms, according to the presentation given to the board. Project completion is expected for Sept. 9.
The total maximum price for the interior renovations projects of Hutto Middle School and Farley Middle School is $8.8 million, said Stephen Cox, vice president of Chaney-Cox Construction Inc.
Construction is expected to start April 5 and targeted for substantial completion by Nov. 5. Counselor offices, smaller offices and band hall space may not be complete by the fall, Cox said.
