The Frisco ISD Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Sunday, March 15, to consider a resolution declaring an emergency closure of schools as part of the district's response to the spread of coronavirus.
The resolution states the emergency closure of all district facilities would be for March 16-20, with additional closures past that date possible.
The resolution also states the board acknowledges many district employees may be instructed not to report to work, while others could be called upon to provide emergency-related services during the closure.
It goes on to state the board “authorizes continued wage payments to all employees” instructed not to report to work during the emergency closures, and nonexempt employees required to work will be paid at a premium rate.
"Our number one priority is the safety of our students, teachers, staff and overall community," board President Chad Rudy said. "This is a very fluid and dynamic situation. Should it be needed, the next step [would be] to develop a home learning process to continue the education of our students."
The emergency meeting will be held at 3 p.m. March 15 in the Frisco ISD Administration Building, 5515 Ohio Drive.
On March 12, the district announced it would extend spring break another week through March 20 due to coronavirus concerns and suspend in-person classes. A message from Superintendent Mike Waldrip said regular classes would be replaced with virtual instruction.
Waldrip sent a message to teachers and staff March 12 explaining they were being told to report to work on March 16 to learn an eLearning platform. His message said virtual instruction would allow the Texas Education Agency to grant the district a waiver to allow it to continue receiving state funding.
“Absent this learning platform, we will not be able to provide educational services to our students,” Waldrip’s message states. “Just to provide you with a perspective on the magnitude of this issue, if our school district were to be closed for two weeks, during a time when we should be open providing an education to our learners, Frisco ISD would lose $25 million dollars in funding. Without this money, we cannot pay salaries and operate the district during this time of closure.”
Click here to see the board's agenda as well as a copy of the proposed resolution.
