The meeting was originally scheduled for March 17, but it was postponed amid coronavirus concerns. Instead, trustees and district officials held the meeting via a Zoom conference call on March 24, which was then livestreamed on the HISD website.
The public health emergency resolution, which is effective through June 30, allows Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen to respond to changes that could arise from the coronavirus crisis without the approval of the school board, according to the resolution. The resolution also allows Fagen to apply for federal, state or local grants as well as educational waivers with regulatory authorities.
The resolution continues through June 30 because that day marks the end of the district's fiscal year and contract year, Fagen said. As of March 27, Humble ISD is only set to be closed through April 10.
"We certainly hope we don't need this emergency resolution that long, but we are just putting it out there through the contract year, through the fiscal year, and allowing us to have the flexibility to do the right things for our employees and our district in that time should we remain in a closed position," she said.
The resolution also ensures that employees will continue to be paid at their regular hourly or daily rate of pay; additionally, certain employees who are needed to physically work during the outbreak may now be given additional compensation.
Jamie Mount, chief communications officer at Humble ISD, said via email that all full- and part-time employees who were scheduled to work will be paid, including guest teachers on long-term substitute teacher assignments. However, she said temporary substitutes and tutors, who are considered temporary and seasonal employees, are not eligible for pay while the buildings are closed.
Other agenda items:
- Trustees approved in the consent agenda that DT Construction be the general contractor for the North and South Ag Barn projects. Construction on the project, which will be funded by a 2018 referendum, should not exceed the budgeted amount of roughly $6.1 million.
- Wylie Construction Services was chosen as the contractor for athletic improvements to Kingwood Park, Kingwood, Atascocita, Summer Creek and Humble high schools. The total construction cost should not exceed $3.5 million.
- Trustees approved the purchase of 28 acres of land on Old Humble Road for the future North Belt Elementary replacement campus. According to the agenda, the elementary school is currently set on 10.15 acres—much smaller than other, newer elementary sites.
