Storm’s Aftermath: How School Districts Are Handling Repairs, Pay, And Make-Up Days

Update: Feb. 23, 2011 El Paso Independent School District students will do weather make up time by adding 30 minutes at the end of the day for 14 days from March 8-April 1 – minus spring break.

On Tuesday, Feb. 15, The University of Texas at El Paso Faculty Senate voted unanimously that there was no need to adjust the approved spring 2011 academic calendar as a result of the weather-related closure of the University Feb. 2-7.

During the University’s closure, many faculty used technology and Web-based tools to communicate with students so that instruction continued and UTEP students were able to carry on with their coursework.

Faculty members have subsequently reviewed their syllabi and worked with students to ensure that course learning objectives established before the weather-related campus shutdown will be met by the end of the spring 2011 semester.

“I am confident that individual faculty have found ways to maintain the academic quality of their classes with the class days and instruction tools we had available,” said Carl Lieb, president of the Faculty Senate. “UTEP was well prepared to deliver instruction even with the campus physically closed,” Lieb added.

Update: Feb. 11, 2011 Weather make-up days will be Feb. 21 and May 30 for the Ysleta Independent School District. Feb. 16 will not be an early release day

YISD students and employees will make up the two inclement weather days on Monday, February 21 and Monday, May 30. These two dates had been pre-determined in the school calendar as inclement weather make-up days. YISD will be requesting a waiver from the Texas Education Agency for the other two missed days of school.

In addition, the early release day scheduled for Wednesday, February 16, has been cancelled. Due to the loss of four instructional days during the recent inclement weather, it has been determined that one opportunity to recapture instructional time with students is to modify the early release day. That day will now be a full day of instruction with students. Staff development for that day will be postponed to a future date. Students will follow a normal school schedule on Feb. 16. Parents should make the necessary arrangements for regular pick up of their children on that day.

YISD parents and employees are receiving this information on the weather make-up days through district phone messages, the district website and fliers distributed at the schools.

Update: Feb. 10, 2011 From El Paso ISD- “All immediate concerns, such as fixing leaks and restoring heat to campuses, were completed prior to Tuesday to ensure our students and employees could return to a safe environment. The District’s maintenance crews are now focusing on repairing related damage to walls and flooring, and replacing heating coils.”

Some major projects include: ? Rebuilding the walls and repairing damaged ceilings in Bowie High School’s B Building ? Replacing the gym floors at Charles and Lincoln middle schools

From Socorro ISD Superintendent’s Letter: SISD to make-up days March 14-16

Let me first express our appreciation to all employees who immediately responded, coordinated and delivered the critical services and support needed to protect our schools and property during the unprecedented winter storm that closed schools for four days.

The Board of Trustees and I are both grateful and proud of our employees. We also recognize that while many of them were personally affected, they continued to prioritize our schools.

We would particularly like to recognize the employees in the Custodial, Maintenance and Operations Department; the Technology Services Department; the Public Relations Department; our Police Services and Security Department; and, the school principals and staff who reported to their schools and departments every day to assess their respective situation.

They all went above and beyond the call of duty in attending to the numerous emergencies throughout the district so that students and staff returned to buildings that were clean, safe, and operational. Their commitment to providing an exceptional level of service is commendable; you have set a new industry standard.

As we resume normal operations this week, I am aware that the pressing question is when will our students receive the instruction that they were not afforded during the four-day closure? Over the past two days, I have met with various stakeholder groups to share options and ideas. Obviously, no one option is going to be well received by all.

Yesterday, I met with the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees and made my recommendation. The District will request a one-day waiver from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) but rather than recess for intersession on Monday, March 14, 2011, students and staff will continue to report to school from Monday, March 14, 2011 through Wednesday, March 16, 2011, in an effort to recover three days of vital instructional time prior to the high-stakes, testing windows that commence later that month through April.

Our intersession period will then officially begin on Thursday, March 17, 2011 and will resume as scheduled on Monday, March 28, 2011.

While making up days is never ideal, we appreciate your cooperation and commitment to providing our students with the instruction and support needed during these days. We recognize that in some cases there may be extenuating circumstances that teachers will need to address with their principals. We will do our best to address individual cases as they present themselves.

With regard to our hourly employees, please know that although pay warrants will reflect four days less, for services rendered during the month, the three days worked during the Intersession will afford some relief and be reflected in the March pay warrant. We are also asking that our administrators and supervisors work with these hourly employees, if requested, to identify other opportunities to make up the day lost as a result of the request for a waiver. Again, please know that your on-going support and cooperation are greatly appreciated. It is because of you, our employees that the Socorro Independent School District continues to be recognized for its excellence and is on the cusp of being a TEA Exemplary District.

Respectfully,

Xavier De La Torre, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Socorro Independent School District

Previous Story: Feb. 9, 2011 One week later, a flurry of snowflakes and single-digit temperatures has been replaced by a flood of questions about how local school districts are handling the aftermath of that winter storm and what changes the educational community can expect in the future.

ABC-7 has compiled a list of of damages and initial repair and make-up day plans from the major school districts in El Paso and the Las Cruces Public Schools.

EPISD: – Preliminary damage estimate: $500,000 -The district plans to use May 30 as one makeup day – District will get recommendations for what other day to make up. – Hourly employees will have to make up days using: 1.) Overtime/Compensation Time Pay 2.) Non Duty or Vacation Time 3.) Sate Discreationary Leave Time (state days) 4.) Local Leave Time (Sick Leave)

YISD: – Preliminary damage estiamte: $400,000 – 88% of YISD’s 61 campuses incurred damage – Major repair projects include: – Capistrano Elementary School: 4 out of 8 heating coils damaged, YISD ordering repair part for custom made coils from out of town – Eastwood Heights: Flooding caused the heating to go out. 50 percent of campus is without heat. Hoping to restore heat by Thursday. – Del Valle High School: Flooding on the 3rd floor – District makeup days: Feb. 21 and May 30 – Hourly employees will be paid for all missed days of work

SISD: – Preliminary cost: $500,000 – Major repair projects include: – Jane Hambric Elementary: Entire wooden gym floor will have to be replaced. – SISD officials may not submit a waiver to the TEA because the district “values instructional time” – District make up days: SISD has a year-round calendar and thus a two-week spring break. SISD officials are discussing the possibility of shaving some time off of those two weeks, instead of using a holiday – SISD still discussing how hourly employees will be paid

LCPS: – Still determining damage estimate – LCPS schools will not have any makeup days – District officials calculated that they meet the hours required by the state for instructional time – Hourly staff memebers will be paid for all missed days of work