MISD students in for a long year
The Marlin ISD Board of Directors unanimously voted to extend the 2020-2021 school year, which accounts for the Texas Education Agency’s recommendation to counteract COVID-19 disruptions during the current school year.
There were two options to choose from for the yearly schedule. The first was a traditional calendar, with school dates ranging from Aug. 12, 2020, to May 23, 2021. This option had the previously used holiday schedule and grading periods.
The chosen calendar, called an Intersessional Calendar, institutes a start date of Aug. 3, 2020. The academic year will end on June 3, 2021 instead of mid-may, as is typical. Students will see longer breaks throughout the school year to make up for this extension.
There will be a four-day weekend for Labor Day, with the Friday prior designated as a staff development day. The next break, a fall intersession, will be Oct. 26-30. and replaces Indigenous Peoples Day/Columbus Day earlier in the month. November will have a Wednesday Veterans Day holiday, as well as Thanksgiving break from Nov. 23-27. Winter Holiday Break will be from Dec. 18 to Jan. 1, followed by staff development days on Jan. 4-5. There will also be a holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 18.
The calendar shows a staff development day on Feb 19, followed by the Spring Intersession from March 9-12. Spring Break is the next week, from March 15-19.
The last holidays of the year will be Good Friday in April, Memorial Day in May, and two staff development days in June that double as bad weather days.
“Our new calendar includes additional flexibility that will allow us to provide additional support to students during our fall and spring intersessions,” said Superintendent Darryl Henson in an email to the district. “As well as strategically placed staff development days that will support the professional development of our employees.”
During the same meeting, it was approved that students would be returning to the classroom at the start of the year.
There were four options that assessed varying levels of need, but the Board of Managers decided to go with one implementing in-person instruction, while giving parents the option to continue virtual instruction if they feel it is necessary for their child.
“We remain committed to providing the rigorous education that all our students need and deserve,” said Henson. “All of these decisions are challenging to make, because there are so many individuals who have unique circumstances that we have to take into consideration.”
“After extensive collaboration with our Marlin ISD stakeholders as well as taking into consideration the recommendations from the CDC, TEA, and local health/government officials, I am confident that this is the right direction for our district,” he continued.
The district has plans in place to be proactive about having necessary supplies on hand, with intent to purchase personal protection equipment, soap/sanitizing solutions, and other safety precautions for both students and staff.
The next MISD Board of Managers meeting will be held Monday, July 6. Head to MISD’s newly updated website, www.marlinisd.org, for more information on Marlin’s transformation and up to date information.