“We are doing everything possible to have a virtual option for our students for those that need it,” trustee Robert Sitton said. "But without legislative action, there is no funding.”
After the 87th Texas Legislature ended in a Democratic walkout protest, voting never took place on a bill that would have provided funding for virtual learning for public schools statewide for the upcoming school year. While HISD officials said many other school districts abandoned their virtual learning plans shortly after, HISD has continued searching for alternative revenue sources.
“We, as a district, did not feel that that was in the best interest of our students,” trustee Lori Twomey said. “We feel strongly that providing options that meet the students in the place where that student is is what is best for our students. And so we will keep fighting until we can't fight anymore.”
The bill's failure also means HISD will not receive an anticipated $15 million-$25 million in state funding that was on the line. In response, Fagen is now seeking a waiver through the TEA to allow HISD to provide a virtual learning option for the 2021-22 school year, which will begin Aug. 10.
“There's probably close to 2,400 students whose parents have told us [they're] just not comfortable right now [sending students back to school],” trustee Robert Scarfo said. “Especially [with] what's going on in our community [and] across the country with this very transmissible [COVID-19] variant, we're all aware of that. And I think we really need to work to give them a [virtual] option.”
