The resolution comes after the district announced it would remain closed until April 10 due to concerns about the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Carrie Galatas, the administrative general counsel, said the resolution allows Null the ability to continue paying employees throughout the closure.
“We do have expectations that they will be working and they will be serving children as they do every day throughout the school year,” Null said. “It will just look differently.”
Students will still be expected to learn throughout the closure as the district begins transitioning to a new form of curriculum and instruction in the coming weeks. Null said students who do not have access to the internet will be given other means of instruction.
The resolution also allows Null to alter the school calendar or declare an emergency without board approval. Galatas said districts across the state are adopting similar resolutions in case the outbreak prevents the board from meeting in person.
Trustee Ray Sanders asked Null to report back to the board if he makes policy changes that would allow them to answer constituents’ questions.
Vice President Skeeter Hubert clarified all employees who work for the district on a daily basis will be paid regularly. Null agreed and said some employees who are not full time will also be paid.
“There is no distinction based on job title with this. This is all employees of the district we are making this request for,” Null said.
The Texas Education Agency has told CISD it will continue its funding at the level it currently receives, but the district must make an effort to continue instructing students, according to Null.
Null said the district will also continue to distribute meals. On its first day of distribution, he said volunteers handed out more than 20,000 meals.
“I know we’ll have volunteers to make these distributions work over the next few weeks,” Null said.
Null said the district will host another Facebook livestream on March 19 at 6 p.m. to share both a general update as well as tips for dealing with stress.
