Volume V, Issue 21 (July 17, 2020)

“The future belongs to those who belive in the beauty of their dreams.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt

Vol. V July 17, 2020

Sharing the good news about Longview Independent School District

SUMMER’S END As summer draws to a close, school districts prepare for a new type of school year

T

he start of a new school year always requires a lot of effort and planning from teachers and staff, but with the continuing pandemic

that has spread throughout the country, things have become even more challenging.

School|Continued to page 7

WILCOX

Public charter amendments OK’d by board Longview Independent School District trustees authorized the amended and restated performance contracts with Longview LEAP, Texas Council for International Studies, and East Texas Advanced Academy for Longview ISD campuses, during their regular meeting July 13th.

Dr. Craig Coleman, LISD Chief COLEMAN Innovation Officer said the TEA was very complimentary of the contracts and applications that were submitted, “However, they did ask for clarity in a couple of areas.”

“Those areas include ensuring the partners have the autonomy to determine assessments utilized and to clearly show the first year operating budgets for the partners,” he said.

Board|Continued to page 13

Poll finds strong ratings for district COVID response Respondents to a district survey gave high marks for the COVID-19 pandemic response, as well as for the quality of education students receive at Longview Independent School District.

LISD Community Relations held an online survey from June 9th through July 10th, asking students, staff, and families to rate the district in a variety of categories on a “star scale,” from one

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to five stars.

Respondents were also given the opportunity to rate other aspects of the district, from the administration and board of trustees, to departments like Transportation, Finance, Human Resources, as well as how area residents prefer to receive information about Longview ISD, Poll|Continued to page 4

Opinion 2 Busy 3

Survey 4 Senior Favorites 8-11

Obituaries Social

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

OPINION

Don’t restart standardized testing

By David DeMatthews The Statesman The Texas Education Agency should reconsider its decision to restart standardized testing in the upcoming school year in light of growing COVID-19 cases and looming budget cuts. Rather than restart standardized testing, now is the time to create a more innovative and cost-effective testing system.

TEA canceled standardized testing for the past school year due to the pandemic but chose not to skip a second year of testing despite national health concerns. Without multiple years of student achievement data, the state is unable to track student growth from year to year, a key accountability measure. There is logic to restarting testing, but the system is not in the best interest of students, teachers or families.

As educational researchers and former school administrators, we recognize the inherent

value of testing and anxiety-provoking testmaintaining a system of ing process. Testing kits accountability. If used frequently show up in appropriately, standardclassrooms with Ziploc ized testing data can bags because students help the state support often throw up on tests and improve struggling due to testing anxiety, districts and schools. Yet, but those tests must still the current testing and be submitted. accountability system in DEMATTHEWS One solution is drasTexas is costly and ineftically cutting back on ficient, and it has not led the number of students to narrowing achievement gaps. tested each year. The National Texas is not unique in its inef- Assessment of Educational Progfective system of accountability. ress assesses a representative Researchers consistently report sample of students rather than that achievement gaps at the an entire student population. secondary level have not been This allows the U.S. Department closed since the advent of the of Education to predict how nation’s standardized testing and each district, school and student accountability law, the No Child would perform. Only testing Left Behind Act. students from select schools and The state needs to rethink its districts will limit costs and testapproach. Budget cuts, learning anxiety. ing loss due to extended school A standardized testing polclosures, and teacher burnout icy that limits testing to only dictate that the state should dra- randomly selected students and matically reduce testing. schools will also save the state Texas currently spends milsignificant resources that extend lions of dollars a year on an beyond testing costs. Students

currently lose approximately 10 instructional days to standardized testing and test preparation.

This lost instructional time is an added expense on an already financially burdened system.

Reducing time spent on testing will result in additional time for teachers to instruct and intervene with their struggling students.

Limiting testing during a pandemic is also a prudent step with obvious public health benefits.

The reduced pressure to prepare for a high-stakes assessment will decrease the likelihood that sick teachers and students will feel compelled to come to school.

Educators are vital to improving student outcomes, but they often feel stressed about standardized testing, which can only heighten burnout and turnover amid the pandemic. es cannot be squandered on an imperfect testing system.

— David DeMatthews is an associate professor of educational leadership and policy in the College of Education at the University of Texas.

Students might get what they need: More classroom time

By Jay Matthews The Washington Post Nearly everyone is wondering how to start what will be the most uncertain new school year of our lifetimes. I sense both fear and hope. It is going to be a mess, but that may inspire worthy innovations.

Here is my suggestion: For decades, the average American neighborhood school has ignored what appears to be one of the best tools for raising achievement — increased learning time. Why not do something about that? Many celebrated teachers have shown the power of stealing a few hours from lunch or after school. But policymakers remain uninterested.

We have been stuck for decades with just 6 1/2 hours of school a day, five days a week, 180 school days a year.

“It is a failure of imagination,” said Chris Gabrieli, one of the nation’s leading advocates for more time. “People are so inured to the system we have had that they cannot imagine just changing the parameters.”

Gabrieli, chairman of the

Massachusetts Board of legislation last year that Higher Education and a will allow any district lecturer at the Harvard in the state to add 30 Graduate School of days to the school year Education, has learned and be reimbursed for to live with his frushalf of the normal daily trations. He said the amount,” Gabrieli said. lack of sufficient time is One suggestion for wired into our schools ensuring enough physin two ways: We have ical space between stuMATTHEWS known no other system dents this fall would be our whole lives, and to have two shifts, with teacher contracts in strong fewer students in each class. union states require that any Teachers are more effective if schedule changes be negotiatclass sizes can be cut below 18 ed. students, research has found.

There are, however, enThat may also be a way to claves of extended time that work more time into the day could grow larger out of desfor each child. peration in the chaos of the In Massachusetts, advocates coming months. The nonprofit successfully argued in some disorganization Empower Schools, tricts for 30 to 33 percent more where Gabrieli serves as chief time, an additional 300 hours a executive, and other activists year. That came out to one hour have designed and launched 10 and 40 minutes a day, about empowerment zones in Massa- two more class periods. “We chusetts, Texas, Colorado and generally argued for one period Indiana. In those places, the of pure personalized support educators at about 50 schools for students on the skills where with 25,000 students decide they needed more support,” the schedule, permitting them Gabrieli said, “and one period to choose longer school days of well-rounded education, such and sometimes longer school as arts and music . . . with some years. students who really need it “Texas also passed important having both periods devoted to

academic support.”

The Massachusetts time-expansion effort was able to get those extra 300 hours for just $1,300 per student, much less than 30 percent of all costs, despite teachers negotiating increased pay.

The most successful public charter school networks made their reputations with longer school days, leading to higher achievement rates even for the children of low-income parents.

School schedules in KIPP, the largest charter network, with 242 schools, vary from region to region but tend toward a school day lasting from 8:20 a.m. to 4 p.m., said KIPP Foundation spokeswoman Maria Alcón-Heraux. That is an hour longer than the national average.

Just how schools could sort out their catastrophic problems this fall and still add more time is anyone’s guess. My idea would be to add each day an hour of quiet reading by students enjoying books they pick themselves. That could be done while teachers sit at their desks preparing future lessons.

— Jay Mathews is an education columnist for The Washington Post.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

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Connie Player’s students keep busy Hudson PEP’s teacher, Connie Player, created a fun challenge for her students during the closure.

Students were challenged to “Build a Masterpiece” with the following instructions: Find items around your home. Build a structure that is at least 5 feet high. Has 1 moving part, 4 square objects, 6 different circles, 1 triangle, 3 items you select yourself and a sign with a name on it. They had to create a design, build and test it.

Her class hosted a zoom meeting to show off their amazing talents. Amazing job, everyone! Such awesome work!

Longview Leadership class graduates Congratulations to the 201920 Leadership Longview class on your graduation!

This class completed the program components and all participants were recognized on June 11.

The selection process for the 2020-21 is underway, and the participants will be determined by the end of July.

The new class will kickoff with a “Meet & Greet” reception in August, hosted by the

Leadership Alumni group, and then begin their journey with a retreat in September.

Sponsorships for the 2020-21

year are still available. Contact Dave Jochum at djochum@ longviewtx.com for more information.

Photo courtesy of the Longview Chamber of Commerce

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

Preliminary results are in for survey Longview Independent School District is releasing the preliminary results of an ongoing survey for teachers and families about backto-school plans.

Following a request from the Texas Education Agency to gauge sentiment from local stakeholders, the district asked our parents and staff to share their feelings about On-Campus, Remote, or Hybrid models of instruction for the 2020-21 school year.

As of Monday morning, more than 2,000 responses to the surveys have been recorded.

To download the complete results, please go to LISD.org.

Dr. James Hockenberry, Assistant Superintendent of District Services, presented the LISD Board of Trustees with preliminary results, explaining that the Community Relations department plans to keep the survey “live” through the end of the week.

If you are a parent of a Longview ISD student or an LISD teacher, please click go to LISD.org to

take the survey.

“Our administration is working diligently in the planning process for the coming year, and this survey is going to be an invaluable resource,” said Dr. Hockenberry. “We’ve had some great turnout [to surveys] recently, and we look at this as an indication that we’re asking the right questions.

Dr. James Wilcox, Superintendent of Schools, said the administration will continue to monitor the ongoing situation and follow guidance from federal, state, and local officials.

“As we continue to navigate through uncertain and uncharted waters, we remind our community that decisions are subject to change,” he said. “But what won’t change is our commitment to keeping our community informed through every means possible.”

To keep track of the latest developments within the district, please check our LISD Coronavirus information portal at LISD.org/ COVID.

POLL |Continued from page 1 and even the Community Relations Department itself.

The three surveys received a combined 828 total responses, with the parent survey receiving 468 responses, the staff survey receiving 289 responses, and the student survey receiving 71 responses In response to the question about how well the district responded to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with an average score of 4.1 stars (out

of five stars) from parents, 4.2 stars from staff, and 4.0 stars from students.

However, results were a little divided when asked which method of communication the different groups preferred.

Parents said they prefer to get their information “automated emails/phone calls,” followed by “website/social media posts.” LISD staff members Poll|Continued to page 17

Poll: Parents are wary of students return to school

By Matt Barnum For Guy Robinson, this spring’s remote learning experiment wasn’t easy.

He helps care for his grandsons, who are entering third and sixth grade in Oakland’s public schools. “Whatever they pay those teachers, it ain’t enough,” he said. “Me trying to teach them — no way.”

So one might think that

Robinson would be pushing his local schools to reopen in-person this fall. But he supports Oakland Unified’s recent decision to start the school year virtually.

“I don’t hope the buildings would open at all right now, because the virus is still there,” he said. “We would absolutely be putting the children at risk.”

Wary|Continued to page 17

To view all of the results of the poll (Parent, Staff and Student), go to LISD.org

THANK YOU THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

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During this difficult time for our community, we are so thankful for the many local restaurants who are offering delivery, drive-thru, and carry-out service for the convenience and safety of our families. Longview ISD is glad to say ‘Thank You’ for being such wonderful community partners!

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Did we miss your restaurant? Send your business name, address and phone number to ask@lisd.org.

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Bodacious BAR-B-Q

904 N 6th St 903-753-2714

1300 W Loop 281 903-759-3914

2227 S Mobberly Ave 903-753-8409

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Bubba’s 33

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The Butcher Shop

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The Cace Kitchen

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Cafe Barron’s

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Carter’s Bar-B-Que

200 E Loop 281 903-232-1606

102 Lehigh St 903-758-6066

415 N High St 903-212-7720

405 W Loop 281 F 903-663-4737

519 S Eastman 903-236-3271

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Casa Ole’

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The Catch

410 W Loop 281 903-236-3491

3312 N Fourth St 903-663-2940

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Chiangmai Thai Kitchen

103 W Loop 281 #430 903-663-6622

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Chick-fil-A

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Chipotle

507 E Loop 281 1740 W Loop 281 3500 McCann Rd

415 E Loop 281 903-663-7664 12 Chili’s Grill & Bar

2800 Judson Rd 903-663-2221 13 Cotton Patch

1228 McCann Rd 903-236-4009 14 Cowboy Chicken

3080 Eastman Ste 100 903-663-0777 15 Edible Art

504 W. South Street

903-234-2114 16 Fat Boyzzz

607 North Access Road 903-619-3301 17 Flying Burger & Seafood

322 E Hawkins Parkway 903-475-1537

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Fuji

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Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

3098 N Eastman 903-663-9888

310 E Hawkins Pkwy 903-663-7545

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COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Goung Zhou

2002 Judson Rd 903-247-8000 21 Hot Dog Express

106 E Marshall Ave 903-753-8081 22 Jason’s Deli

103 W Loop 281 903-663-5161 23 Jucy’s Hamburgers

2701 N Eastman

3356 Gilmer Rd

816 W Marshall Ave

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Little Mexico

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Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt

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Mi Casita

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Papacita’s

3495 McCann Rd 903-758-2194 25 Lizzy’s Diner

2900 Tuttle Blvd 903-663-1154

310 E Hawkins Ste 100 430-625-8053

324 N Spur 63 903-758-8226 28 Newk’s Eatery

110 E Loop 281 903-753-7000

305 W Loop 281 903-663-1700

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Pizza King

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Posados

1100 E Marshall 903-753-0912

110 Triple Creek Cir 903-234-9115 32 Raising Cane’s

212 E Loop 281 903-238-8800 33 Roma’s Italian Kitchen

102 E Tyler St 403-625-7240 34 Rotolo’s Pizzeria

3407 N Fourth St 101 903-212-7448 35 Saltgrass Steak House

411 E Loop 281 903-232-1513 36 Schlotzsky’s

1429 W Loop 281 903-297-8030 37 Slim Chickens

204 E Loop 281 903-824-1735 38 Tuscan Pig Italian Kitchen

401 S High St 903-651-1833 39 Whataburger

105 TX-63 Spur

3123 Eastman

3308 Fourth St

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

DISTRICT WIDE • International Baccalaureate project partners with “We Help Two” and sells “funky socks” to help supply legs and feet to amputees all over the world.

• LISD schools earned 40 total distinctions on state accountability ratings, an increase from 34 earned last year, and the highest in the region.

• Each year HUNDREDS of out-of-district students transfer INTO Longview Independent School District, citing “education opportunities” as their reason.

• Local corporate partnerships with Eastman and Komatsu and Longview Manufacturing Academy.

• Went totally ‘green’ on all building projects resulting in a $200,000 award from SWEPCO for energy conservation.

• Raising Highly Capable Kids parenting class in partnership with Longview Chamber of Commerce.

• Brand new partnership for innovation with East Texas Advanced Academies which will bring new funding and ideas to public education.

• LIFT program annually paying out close to $1 million in staff bonuses for improved testing scores.

• Signing Santa to help deaf ed students communicate with “Santa.”

• Hosted Adjunct Fair for SFA to help employ Adjunct staff in Longview and through Longview ISD. • Purchased multiple pieces of strategic real estate, without increased debt, for future expansion.

• State and National Technical Student Association winners.

MONTESSORI

LONGVIEW HIGH • Longview High School celebrated a class of over 100 International Baccalaureate Diploma students for 201920.

• The senior IB Diploma students have all completed at least 150 hours of service learning activities, culminating over 6500 hours of community service for 2019-20.

• The IB students participated in the campus service learning project, We Help Two, and were able to sponsor 5 clients with prosthetic legs in developing countries.

• Longview High School began the application process to become an IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) school and to offer the IB Career-Related Programme school.

• Longview High School graduated 51 seniors who will also graduate with Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degrees from Kilgore College for 2019-20.

• Additionally, 80 seniors graduated with at least 24 hours of college credit.

• For the 2019-2020 school year, 594 unduplicated LHS students took a total 7,950 credit hours. This averages slightly more than 12 hours each. These numbers are for hours taken at Kilgore College. Other students took hours through Stephen F. Austin University, University of Texas, and LeTourneau.

• 251 members of 2020 Senior class took 3,617 hours.

This averages slightly more

• Every year of Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox tenure the LISD budget has been “in the black.”

• LISD farm-to-table program, partnering with local farmers for cafeteria produce.

• Hosted “Axe”epted East Texas meet and greet for area students attending SFA in Fall 2019.

• Partnerships in education with UT, SMU, Texas Tech, SFA, KC, Letourneau, and UT-Tyler.

• Longview ISD middle school students earn “Duke Scholar” honors every year.

than 14 hours each. These numbers are for hours taken at Kilgore College. Other students took hours through Stephen F. Austin University, University of Texas, and LeTourneau.

• 99 more of the 2020 LHS seniors qualified for the KC Connection Scholarship that allows them to complete their Kilgore College Degree or Certificate at the reduced tuition rate of 60% of regular tuition. These scholarships represent an average of $1,500 each year per student.

• LHS opened the GO Lab for students to use as needed for course work.

• Longview High School hosted it first Magnet Showcase Night.

• Largest FREE public Montessori school (for 3-to5 year-olds) in the nation, provided free of charge to Longview area children.

• Eight-week Montessori training for other districts in Texas hosted by ETMPA.

Principals, did we miss your school’s achievements? Please send us your brags and we will include them!

ask@LISD.org

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

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Will Texas classrooms stay closed this fall?

By Ali Swaby The Texas Tribune Local public health officials will be able to keep Texas schools closed for in-person instruction this fall without risking state education funding, a Texas Education Agency spokesperson confirmed to The Texas Tribune on Wednesday.

Last week, the state’s education agency released an order requiring schools to open their buildings to in-person instruction five days a week for all students who want it. The order gives districts a transition period of just three weeks at the start of the year to hold classes virtually and get their safety plans in place before allowing students back on campuses.

After the three-week transition, districts that stay entirely virtual would risk losing funding.

But TEA officials confirmed Wednesday they would continue to fund school districts if local health officials order them to stay closed, as long as they offer remote instruction for all students.

Gov. Greg Abbott told a Houston television station this week that the state would ease up on stringent reopening requirements, as Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations skyrocket across Texas, and would give

school districts more flexibility to stay virtual for longer than three weeks.

Public health officials warn that reopening school buildings in areas ABBOTT with a lot of community spread will exacerbate the virus’ impact on those communities.

Even before Abbott’s statement, some local public health officials had moved to mandate that schools remain closed at least through Labor Day, saying it would be unsafe to reopen school buildings while the pandemic was raging. El

Paso and Laredo health officials were among the first to issue those mandates last week. And on Tuesday, Travis County health officials ordered all public and private schools to delay on-campus instruction at least until Sept. 7.

It was unclear last week whether Abbott or the TEA would let those orders stand.

The wavering guidance has confused and frustrated teachers and parents wanting to know what the upcoming fall will mean for themselves and their families. A recent University of Texas and Texas Politics Project poll showed that 65% of Texans said it was unsafe for children to go back to school. And teachers

unions are encouraging their members to look for legal avenues to stay home, including resigning or retiring early, instead of being forced back into classrooms while cases are rising.

A TEA spokesperson told the Tribune that school superintendents and school boards cannot make the decision to stay entirely virtual for longer than three weeks without a mandate from public health officials.

Some school districts, including San Antonio Independent School District, are moving their start dates to later in August and then starting their school years entirely virtually for three weeks.

staff, and students view the district’s response to COVID-19. The survey was to gauge how parents and staff would like to see the school year operate with regards to keeping everyone safe.

More information about the poll can be found on Page 1, and more information about the survey can be found on Page 7.

“It’s important that the community have their input heard on these matters. This is their district, so their voices’ help the district become stronger,” said Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox. “We are thankful to everyone who took the time and answered the questions to give us such valuable input.”

Not only is the district coming up with plans for how to minimize the risk of

returning to school, but the Texas Department Agency has put out guidelines for districts.

As stated on the TEA website, “all students, teachers, staff, and visitors coming to campus must be screened before being allowed on campus. Consistent with the Governor’s most recent executive order, and assuming that order is still in place, masks will be required while in school buildings, with certain exceptions made, as noted in the order. Schools will also be required to follow any forthcoming executive orders issued by the Governor.”

Along with safety measures in place such as this, the TEA is also providing school systems with resources to ensure a strong start to the school year.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced on Tuesday, July 14, that Texas school districts will have more flexibility to keep their school buildings closed to in-person instruction this fall. Since reopening, the state has seen the number of Coronavirus cases rise. Originally, public health guidelines state that school districts could keep virtual classes for up to three weeks after their start dates so that they could work on their safety protocols. If they remained closed for longer than three weeks, they would lose state funding.

Now, with Gov. Abbott’s statement, that time has been extended.

To find out more about the district’s plans in response to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic please go to LISD.org/COVID.

SCHOOL |Continued from page 1

Longview Independent School District is currently working to anticipate and prepare for the needs of our students and staff when the school year begins. We are currently developing several plans to cover curriculum and instruction, facilities and operations, as well as questions about transportation and human resources topics.

Longview ISD is taking steps to do as much as possible to ensure the safety of the students and staff. But the district is also taking into consideration what the public and faculty think.

Both a poll and a survey were made available online, and the results at the time of this writing have helped the district to see what the community thinks. The poll was to find out how the community,

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

Dynamic Duos Sawyer Goram-Welch and Parker Cox Kerris Cameron and Kennedy Cameron

Most Musical Jaharious Jones and Quintana King

Most Changed Since Freshman Year Tim Polk and Adeline Langston

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

Most Athletic Malik Henry, TyShawn Taylor and Jordan McClain

Best Personalities Kyle Ashley, Ava Loyd and Anna Burson

Social Media Stars Lulu Heichelheim and Danny Huynh

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

Most Talented Performing Arts Matthew Hanson and Carmen Vermillion

Future Picassos Ellie Duvall and Omar Arteaga

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

Oustanding Leader Drew Beltran and Moiya Toliver

Most Likely to Succeed Bobby Hough and Fatima Akilo

Mr. and Miss Lobo Haynes King and Abigail Archer

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

Groups: Waive STAAR requirements again

By Adriana Rezal Community Impact Education-focused organizations are calling for the Texas Education Agency to reconsider its decision to resume the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR tests, in the 2020-21 school year.

As previously reported by Community Impact Newspaper, the push back comes in response to a June 30 State Board of Education meeting, in which Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced STAAR testing requirements would be reinstated in the coming school year after being waived in the 2020 spring semester due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

“We have all these things in place for a reason,” Morath said. “There’s very solid evidence [standardized tests] help children, especially students from low-income backgrounds. So we don’t want to throw that up and just give up on the objectives to have students master the knowledge and skills they need to master this year.”

Despite possible changes to the tests, such as longer testing windows of 30 days and different ways to calculate A-F ratings, organization leaders like Theresa Trevino, vice president of Texans Advo-

cating for Meaningful Assessment, say schools should hold off another year.

“This pandemic really shined light on how disparate our districts were and are,” Trevino said. “We believe that these different holes ... are going to show up again, peppered throughout our state.”

Morath pointed out during the June 30 presentation that the switch from in-person education to online remote learning had a profound negative effect on students from low-income backgrounds, also referred to as the “COVID[-19] slide.”

“On or about the time of COVID[-19] closures in the state of Texas and country-wide, you saw an immediate split in how students were making academic prog-

Pediatrics group urges students return to school in fall semester

By Bradford Betz The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on Thursday issued a set of reentry policies for schools to follow, urging that all considerations for the fall should have the goal

of students being “physically present in school,” despite a continuing rise in Coronavirus cases nationwide.

In its “COVID-19 Planning Return|Continued to page 15

ress,” he said. “Students from low-income ZIP codes were at a precipitous decline in academic progress that was immediate. They were making 50% less progress in mathematics than they normally do on a week-to-week basis.”

The four- to five-hour long exam is given to all Texas public school students in grades 3-12 and tests for reading, writing, math, science and social studies. In addition to being a requirement for state funding of public schools, the tests can also determine if a student is deemed sufficiently prepared for moving on to the next grade level or receiving their high school diploma.

Although standardized tests may be instrumental in gauging a students’ academic

performance, as schools are also navigating in-person and online learning methods, Trevino said keeping high stakes such as grade advancement, graduation requirements or state accountability rankings might add additional pressures to students, educators and schools.

“Let’s see what happens when you remove the stakes,” Trevino said. “I would venture to guess [that] you’re going to see a lot of learning, because [students] are going to have that many more weeks of curriculum that’s presented to them and not test strategies.”

Elected officials such as State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D— Austin, and other organizations such as the Texas State Teachers Association and the Texas branch of the American Federation of Teachers have likewise voiced their opposition to the decision.

“Standardized testing should be the last priority for students, educators and policymakers,” TSTA President Noel Candelaria said. “There are other, much more crucial priorities for the state, beginning with a plan for safe schools, a plan for returning students, teachers and employees safely to classrooms, but only after the pandemic has begun to subside, not while COVID[-19] cases are still increasing.”

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

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Teachers caught in middle of political battle

By Stacy Fernandez The Texas Tribune Teachers like Jennifer Boyer have become the rope in a political tug of war over reopening Texas schools.

While record numbers of Texans are hospitalized and dying from COVID-19, the question of whether teachers will be pulled back into classrooms next fall, willing or not, has spawned pitched national and local battles over the safety of restarting in-person public education.

Those decisions will largely be made by local school boards and superintendents, but pressure from Republicans — from President Donald Trump on down — to get back to business has teachers feeling left out of the planning process.

“I’m pretty angry. But I’m mostly angry at the high-up decision makers, all the way from the president to our state officials and the [Texas Education Agency],” says Boyer, who works with elementary school gifted students in San Antonio’s Northside Independent School District.

Boyer is worried about her own health. She suspects the medicine she takes to keep cancer in remission might put her at higher risk for COVID-19. But she is years from retirement and can’t financially afford to quit.

She watches national and state education officials push to reopen at the expense of her and other teachers’ wellbeing.

“I feel like it’s a political decision,” she said.

Under the guidelines Texas education officials had initially released, schools would be required to offer five days of in-person instruction per week, forcing some school superintendents to ditch plans they had already created hoping to keep families and teachers safe during the pandemic.

A week later, TEA officials announced that classrooms could remain closed and continue receiving funds, if they affered remote instruction for all students.

If parents are worried about safety, they’re free to keep their children home to take

virtual classes. A recent University of Texas and Texas Politics Project poll showed that 65% of Texans said it was unsafe for children to go back to school, including 42% of Republicans polled and 91% of Democrats. Black and Hispanic Texans, who are disproportionately susceptible to the virus, were more likely than white Texans to say in-person instruction was unsafe.

But the state’s public health guidance does not give teachers an avenue to opt out like parents can, and says little about how school districts should protect the teachers and staff who are more vulnerable than children to dying from the virus — leaving those decisions largely up to locals.

The extreme political pressure on school districts to keep

an in-district charter.

In accordance with TEA policy, LISD maintains the authority to set the ground rules the partners have to follow.

Passed in 2017 by the 85th Texas Legislature, under the leadership of Gov. Greg Abbott, Senate Bill 1882 creates new incentives for traditional public schools to partner with outside entities to improve student outcomes.

For more information about the Longview ISD public school charter program please visit LISD.org/charters, call the LISD Department of Innovation at 903-381-2200, or visit the TEA website: TxPartner ships.org.

sented to the board (during the June 24 special meeting), LISD Community Relations has gathered results from the annual “approval rating” survey that

their buildings open, even as the number of COVID-19 cases in Texas hits day-after-day record highs, is terrifying for educators and school staff who may have to put their health at risk to keep their jobs.

“Teachers at this point, we’re ready to put our collective foot down and we’re not going to be bullied into going back into an unsafe situation,” said Traci Dunlap, an Austin ISD kindergarten teacher. “Unfortunately, I have a lot of colleagues around the state that are talking about resigning, retiring, retiring early or leaving the teaching profession.

Particularly galling for some teachers is the TEA’s own behavior. Even as the agency compeled teachers back to the classroom, its own offices remained all-but-closed with most staff working from home to protect their own health. As of July, agency staff have had the option to return to the office building on a “voluntary basis” and the TEA is working on next steps for “later this summer and beyond,” according to a written statement from the agency.

“Well, if it’s safe enough for students to come back, isn’t it safe enough for you to go back to work? And if the answer is, ‘No,’ then they need to reevaluate how they’re treating their Battle|Continued to page 15

BOARD |Continued from page 1 “The contracts have been updated to include the recommendations.

Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox added WILCOX that the TEA has approved LISD’s partnership agreements that were submitted contingent upon the changes.

“The contracts presented tonight include those recommended changes,” he said. “In addition, we are recommending revision to the ETAA contract in order to ensure that we have consistency across the district.”

Governed by a 2017 state law called Senate Bill 1882, the public school charter program provides extra funding to traditional public school districts that contract with outside entities such as charter networks, non-profits, and universities to run their schools as

DISTRICT SURVEYS

Dr. James Hockenberry, Assistant Superintendent of District Services, presented board members with the results from recent surveys given to Longview ISD families, staff, and students.

In addition to the district calendar survey that was pre-

HOCKENBERRY

went out June 9th, as well as a new “back to school” survey that went out July 9th.

“Our administration is working diligently in the planning process for the coming year, and this survey is going to be an invaluable resource,” he said. “We’ve had some great turnout [to surveys] recently, Board|Continued to page 19

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

Some teachers preparing their wills over COVID-19

By Theresa Waldrop Back-to-school is looking a little different for many teachers nationwide this year, as they grapple with returning to their classrooms amid a pandemic.

Added to their list of concerns: Death.

“How horrible is it that one of the things on the list to do is to have a plan for students and teachers dying?” Denise Bradford, a teacher in Orange County, California’s Saddleback Valley Unified School District, told CNN. Her comment comes after the Orange County Board of Education voted this week to return children to schools without face masks or social distancing, despite a surge in Coronavirus cases and more than 7,000 Covid-19 deaths in the state.

Bradford is not alone: Many teachers CNN spoke with, some who requested they not be named due to fears of repercussions from their school districts, said they are preparing for the worst this fall. (CNN has

agreed to use pseudonyms for some of the teachers to protect their identities).

Decisions about whether schools will reopen, and in what capacity, have mostly been left to school districts, with some guidance from state officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

President Donald Trump, while pushing for schools to open, has complained the guidelines are “very tough and expensive.” Education Secretary Besty DeVos has refused to say whether districts should

follow them, and in a recent CNN interview, made it clear the administration has no plan for a safe reopening, leaving it up to states or districts.

All of the interviewed teachers shared a similar sentiment: They miss their students and in person teaching, but they worry about their health should they return to classrooms amid the pandemic.

“We miss our kids terribly,” Bradford told CNN’s Brianna Keilar. “We lay awake at night wondering if they’re okay.”

Louise, a special education

teacher in another state where COVID-19 is surging, told CNN she is preparing a will and a living will. She is also looking into supplementary life insurance as she gets ready to go back into the classroom next month.

“It’s probably time that I have something in place,” Louise said of her will, “and there’s nothing like a pandemic to make you do all that.”

Louise said other teachers in her area also know little about what protocols are planned when schools open in their district. What they’ve heard won’t be done has some worried enough to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Eleeza, a high school teacher in the same district, told CNN she is updating her will, and putting a trust in place for her disabled, high-risk 19-year-old son.

She’s also struggling with a living will for her son, for whom she has legal guardianship, along with her husband and another person outside the household.

FEDERAL EMPLOYEE RIGHTS PAID SICK LEAVE AND EXPANDED FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE UNDER THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires the Federal government to provide all of its employees with paid sick leave and, for employees who are covered under Title I of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), with expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. ►

PAID LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS

Generally, the Federal government must provide Federal employees: Up to two weeks (80 hours, or a part-time employee’s two-week equivalent) of paid sick leave based on the higher of their regular rate of pay, or the applicable state or Federal minimum wage, paid at:

• 100% for qualifying reasons #1-3 below, up to $511 daily and $5,110 total; and • 2/3 for qualifying reasons #4 and 6 below, up to $200 daily and $2,000 total.

Federal employees including those not covered under Title I of the FMLA can receive either 2/3 of the higher of their regular rate of pay, or the applicable state or Federal minimum wage for the two-week period for qualifying reason #5 below. However, for leave under qualifying reason #5, Federal employees covered under Title I of the FMLA can receive 10 additional weeks of expanded family and medical leave for reason #5 below, up to $200 daily and $12,000 total.

A part-time employee is eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee is normally scheduled to work over that period. ►

ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES

All Federal employees are eligible for up to two weeks of fully or partially paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons (see below).

Federal employees who are covered under Title I of the FMLA and have been employed for at least 30 days prior to their leave request are eligible for up to an additional 10 weeks of partially paid expanded family and medical leave for reason #5 below.

Most federal employees are not covered under Title I of the FMLA and so would not be eligible for partially paid expanded family and medical leave. Please consult with your agency to determine whether you are covered under Title I of the FMLA. The Office of Personnel and Management will issue guidance on this question. ►

QUALIFYING REASONS FOR LEAVE RELATED TO COVID-19

A Federal employee is entitled to take leave related to COVID-19 if the employee is unable to work, including unable to telework, because the employee: 1. is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19; 2. has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19; 3. is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;

5. is caring for his or her child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) due to COVID-19 related reasons; or 6. is experiencing any other substantially-similar condition specified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

4. is caring for an individual subject to an order described in (1) or self-quarantine as described in (2); ►

ENFORCEMENT

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has the authority to investigate and enforce compliance with the FFCRA for Federal employers covered under Title I of the FMLA. Employers may not discharge, discipline, or otherwise discriminate against any employee who lawfully takes paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave under the FFCRA, files a complaint, or institutes a proceeding under or related to this Act. Federal employers covered under Title I of the FMLA in violation of the provisions of the FFCRA will be subject to penalties and enforcement by WHD.

WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

For additional information or to file a complaint:

1-866-487-9243 TTY: 1-877-889-5627 dol.gov/agencies/whd

WH1423 REV 03/20

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020 RETURN |Continued from page 12

BATTLE |Continued from page 13

Considerations: Guidance for School Reentry,” the AAP laid out its “key principles” for school reentry policies. They included, among other things, being “flexible and nimble in responding to new information,” and accommodating disadvantaged students.

“With the above principles in mind, the AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school,” the AAP wrote.

The AAP noted that children and adolescents were “less likely to be symptomatic and less likely to have severe disease” resulting from a COVID-19 infection.

“Policies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within schools must be balanced with the known harms to children, adolescents, families, and the community by keeping children at home,” the group wrote.

Officials in nearly every U.S. state ordered schools closed for the remainder of the school year in an effort to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.

Back in May, President Trump urged the reopening of schools throughout the U.S. as most remained closed to limit the Coronavirus spread and protect the health of students during the pandemic.

Still, many of the nation’s school districts have yet to announce solid plans for the upcoming school year. The AAP’s urging came amid a resurgence of coronavirus cases across the country, with Texas and Florida rolling out new restrictions.

“COVID-19 has taken a very swift and very dangerous turn in Texas over just the past few weeks,” said Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, who had allowed businesses to start reopening in early May but on Friday shut down bars and limited restaurant dining amid a spike in cases.

More Florida beaches will be closing again to avoid further spread of the new Coronavirus as officials tried tamping down on large gatherings amid a spike in COVID-19 cases. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said interactions among young people were driving the surge.

“Caution was thrown to the wind, and so, we are where we are,” DeSantis, a Republican, said.

New York state reported five new virus deaths Saturday, its lowest reported daily death toll since March 15. During the state’s peak last April, nearly 800 people were dying every day. New York still has led the nation in COVID-19 deaths with nearly 25,000.

In the state of Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, put a hold on plans to move counties to the fourth phase of his reopening plan as cases continued to increase. But, in Hawaii, the city of Honolulu announced that campgrounds will reopen for the first time in three months with limited permits to ensure social distancing.

students,” said Mario Piña, an eighth grade Austin ISD teacher. “Student and teacher safety is number one.”

When Texas unveiled its final plan for reopening schools this fall, the Texas Pediatric Society praised Gov. Greg Abbott for ensuring “in-person instruction is available to every child,” which the organization argues is best for students’ mental, educational and social wellness. And some Republican state lawmakers celebrated the decision as one that gave school districts the most “freedom and flexibility” for their communities.

The debate extends far beyond Texas’ boundaries, as the Trump administration pressures governors and local leaders across the country to offer daily in-person instruction, part of a larger plan to bolster a slumping economy. Trump slammed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this week for asking schools to do “very impractical things” with “very tough and expensive guidelines for opening schools.”

Although Texas’ new public health guidance includes requirements for most teachers and students to wear masks, and recommendations for social distancing and sanitizing, teachers said it doesn’t go far enough compared to more stringent CDC guidelines.

They implored state leaders to

Page 15

reconsider expanding online learning and to make in-person learning as safe as possible by mandating smaller class sizes, additional busing and staggered schedules. Already, teachers unions are encouraging their members to look into legal avenues to teach remotely or stay at home, including retiring early, resigning, asking for federal disability accommodations, or filing for family and medical leave. Some school districts, including Houston ISD, the state’s largest, are already reporting teacher shortages, and the bench of substitute teachers is growing sparser.

On a call with superintendents Thursday, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath acknowledged superintendents wanted more guidance on how to let more staff work remotely. He suggested they make good use of a three-week transition period Texas is allowing school districts this fall, during which school districts can stay virtual and get their safety protocols ironed out before bringing more students to campuses. Districts that keep their buildings closed past the threeweek period will lose state funding.

But the desire for flexibility goes beyond those three weeks. Across the state, local health authorities and teachers are refusing to comply with the state’s orders, arguing it’s not safe to go back as cases rise.

EMPLOYEE RIGHTS

PAID SICK LEAVE AND EXPANDED FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE UNDER THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.

These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. ►

PAID LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS

Generally, employers covered under the Act must provide employees: Up to two weeks (80 hours, or a part-time employee’s two-week equivalent) of paid sick leave based on the higher of their regular rate of pay, or the applicable state or Federal minimum wage, paid at: • 100% for qualifying reasons #1-3 below, up to $511 daily and $5,110 total; • 2/3 for qualifying reasons #4 and 6 below, up to $200 daily and $2,000 total; and • Up to 12 weeks of paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave paid at 2/3 for qualifying reason #5 below for up to $200 daily and $12,000 total.

A part-time employee is eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee is normally scheduled to work over that period. ►

ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES

In general, employees of private sector employers with fewer than 500 employees, and certain public sector employers, are eligible for up to two weeks of fully or partially paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons (see below).

Employees who have been employed for at least 30 days prior to their leave request may be eligible for up to an additional 10 weeks of partially paid expanded family and medical leave for reason #5 below. ►

QUALIFYING REASONS FOR LEAVE RELATED TO COVID-19

An employee is entitled to take leave related to COVID-19 if the employee is unable to work, including unable to telework, because the employee: 1. is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19; 2. has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19; 3. is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;

5. is caring for his or her child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) due to COVID-19 related reasons; or 6. is experiencing any other substantially-similar condition specified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

4. is caring for an individual subject to an order described in (1) or self-quarantine as described in (2); ►

ENFORCEMENT

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has the authority to investigate and enforce compliance with the FFCRA. Employers may not discharge, discipline, or otherwise discriminate against any employee who lawfully takes paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave under the FFCRA, files a complaint, or institutes a proceeding under or related to this Act. Employers in violation of the provisions of the FFCRA will be subject to penalties and enforcement by WHD. WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

For additional information or to file a complaint:

1-866-487-9243 TTY: 1-877-889-5627 dol.gov/agencies/whd WH1422 REV 03/20

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

OBITUARIES Longview ISD offers our most sincere condolences to our extended Lobo family MARTY JEANETTE MARKS

MARKS

Marty Jeanette Richardson Marks was born on June 4th, 1949, and went to her heavenly home on June 20,2020.

She was a lifetime resident of Longview and graduated from Longview High School, class of 1967. Go Lobos! Marty enjoyed

fishing, gardening and cooking. She also loved her cats.

She was preceded in death by her parents Johnnie Lawerence Jr. Richardson and Doris McCullough Richardson. She is survived by her daughter Whitney Marks of Longview, brother Johnnie Richardson the 3rd, wife (Maria), and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. The family would like to thank all the nurses and doctors who cared for Marty while she was in the hospital.

TEA: 1 in 10 students have disengaged

By Aliyya Swaby ABC13 More than 600,000 Texas public school students, about 11.3% of the overall student population, either didn’t complete assignments or didn’t respond to teacher outreach for some period of time this spring during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Texas Education Agency released a report Tuesday showing that higher percentages of low-income, Black and Hispanic students were not completing assignments or were not responsive to teacher outreach compared with higher-income, white and Asian peers. Texas collected the data from school districts in early May, and districts have until July 16 to update their numbers.

The report comes as Texas, like states across the country, puzzles through decisions on what the upcoming academic year will look like for students and staff. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has stressed that schools should be prepared this fall to address the effects of the “COVID slide,” the likely ac-

ademic backslide due to the pandemic.

The Texas Tribune reports after the pandemic forced all school buildings to shut down in April, Texas public schools reported losing contact with thousands of students, including some of their most vulnerable. Many students did not have access to the internet, while others, especially older students, went to work to replace income their families had lost during the economic decline.same district, told CNN she is updating her will, and putting a trust in place for her disabled, high-risk 19-year-old son.She’s also struggling with a living will for her son, for whom she has legal guardianship, along with her husband and another person outside the household.

“What does a DNR (do not resuscitate order) look like with three guardians?” Eleeza asked. “We all have to agree on it.”

According to the TEA report, about 16.9% of Black public school students in Texas were not fully engaged with their schoolwork or teachers during the pandemic, the largest percentage of any racial or ethnic subgroup. And about 13.3% of Hispanic students were not fully engaged, the next largest percentage. Only 6.4% of white students were not fully engaged, according to the report.

And about 15.5% of economically disadvantaged students were not fully engaged during school closures, compared with less than 5% of higher-income students.

PUBLIC NOTICES LISD requests bids for the purchase of Unleaded & Diesel Fuel Longview ISD requests bids for the purchase of Unleaded and Diesel Fuel. Bids will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. July 15, 2020 at 1301 E. Young Street., Longview, TX 75602 or mailed to P.O. Box 3268, Longview, TX 75606. No faxed or e-mailed bids will be accepted. Address your sealed bid: ATTENTION: JOEY JONES-SEALED BID FOR UNLEAD AND DIESEL FUEL-DO NOT OPEN. Bids not received by the specified deadline will not be considered. The District reserves the right to reject any and all bids and accept the bid the District considers most advantageous.

Contact Dianne Parr, LISD Business Office for Bid forms and specifications at 903-381-2293 or dlparr@lisd.org. The proposed contract is for a term of one (1) year beginning August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021 with possible (1) year extensions agreed to by both District and vendor in writing. Bids will be awarded based on price, previous service experience and reference checks.

MAXINE ANN KERSTETTER

Ann Kerstetter age, 86 of Longview went to be with her Lord Monday, July 6, passing peacefully in her sleep.

Ann was born Maxine Ann Richardson on Sept 24, 1933, in Tulsa, OklahoKERSTETTER ma. She was the daughter of Herbert Montelle Richardson and Imogene Pauline LaPlante and the sister of William Montelle Richardson, all of whom predeceased her.

She was a graduate of Longview High School and Kilgore College where she was a Rangerette. Ann worked as a nurse’s aide at several facilities during her working life.

A lifelong member of Mobberly Baptist Church, Ann was a dedicated Christian.

She was a member of the church choir and she was instrumental in starting a Bible study at her assisted living facility. Though bedridden in her later years, Ann had a happy and loving spirit and was loved by all her caregivers. She is remembered by all who knew her for her big smile and always being filled with gratitude, joy and love for the Lord.

She is survived by her son, Michael, daughter-in-law, Debra Collier-Kerstetter, granddaughter, K. D. Fleis and her husband, Aaron.

Visitation was held at Welch Funeral Home on Thursday, July 9.

A graveside service was held at Memory Park Cemetery on Friday, July 10.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mobberly Baptist Church music program or Samaritan’s Purse.”

Online condolences may be left at cammackfamily. com.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

Page 17

WARY |Continued from page 4 State and national polls show that many parents and caregivers share Robinson’s misgivings, despite the difficulty remote learning has posed for many families and children’s lower risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.

That was clear even in polls conducted before the recent national spike in virus cases, which may have boosted parent skepticism. Parents’ views could help explain why more districts are making the choice to start the school year remotely, and portend many students staying home even if their schools do reopen.

Black and Hispanic parents appear particularly concerned about the idea of reopening school buildings, which may reflect the way the Coronavirus has disproportionately affected those groups.

In one recent California poll, just 17% of parents of color and 30% of white parents believed that students should attend in-person classes daily this fall. California parents were about evenly split between wanting schools to partially reopen and remaining fully virtual until the virus is under control. California’s two largest districts announced this week that they plan to start the coming school year virtually.

Most of the polls were conducted before the Trump administration began pressuring schools to reopen. That adds a note of uncertainty, as it’s unclear how persuaded parents will be by the administration’s case.

But one new national survey, conducted in recent days, found that nearly three-quarters of parents felt there was a large to moderate risk of sending students back to school this fall.

For Black and Hispanic parents, the numbers were even higher.

“I know the argument that kids don’t get sick, but there’s

so many people that live in different situations, with older relatives,” said Janine Harper, a Brooklyn parent of a rising sixth grader. “I’m very concerned.” New York City’s public schools plan to offer in-person instruction one to three days a week for most students, but right now, Harper expects to keep her daughter home learning remotely.

One national survey of parents, released by the National Parents Union, framed the issue bluntly: Should schools “remain closed until they are certain there is no health risk,” or “reopen as soon as possible so students don’t fall too far behind”?

In several waves of polls, starting in early May and running through mid-June, most parents said schools should err

POLL |Continued from page 4 responded with similar percentages. But students selected “website/ social media posts” as their preferred medium, followed by “automated emails/phone calls.”

The poll was created

by LISD Communication Specialist Matthew Prosser and presented to board members during the Tuesday, July 13, regular meeting.

“Our goal for this survey was to give our board members a snapshot of public sentiment as we

continue to prepare for the coming school year,” he said.

Prosser said the Community Relations Department will continue to develop more surveys and polls for the future.

“We are always looking for better and more efficient ways to communicate with our community, and better serve the excellent students and staff of our district,” he said.

To download the complete results, please go to LISD.org.

on the side of remaining closed.

Still, the share of parents who supported reopening edged up to 36% by June, perhaps reflecting flattening infection rates.

(More recent numbers, which might reflect the recent spike in viruses, are not available.)

Another poll, released by EdChoice, asked parents in mid-June whether they were comfortable with their child returning to school in the fall.

Only 26% said they were, and another 31% said they were somewhat comfortable. A total of 40% said they were not that comfortable or not at all comfortable. (EdChoice is a funder of Chalkbeat.)

Not surprisingly, the same poll found that more than a third of parents said they were very likely to opt into virtual learning if given the choice.

Another third said they were somewhat likely to take up that option. In other words, twothirds of parents were at least considering avoiding school buildings altogether.

Similarly, another mid-June poll by Politico found that a majority of parents were uncomfortable reopening schools in the fall, although a substantial minority — 42% — said they were at least somewhat comfortable doing so.

Harper says her plan to keep her daughter home is influenced by a number of factors: uncertainty about the health risks for children, including her daughter who has asthma; skepticism that schools can successfully implement health guidelines; and concerns about spreading the disease to others, including teachers.

Schools brace for epidemic challenges

By Isabelle Lee The Daily Yonder When Meigs Middle School in Decatur, Tennessee, closed its doors for the spring break on March 17, many, including special education teacher Matthew Coe, did not know they would remain shut through the end of the school year.

“I did not realize it was our last goodbye,” said Coe, who has been a special education teacher for 15 years, seven of which have been at Meigs Middle. “It was hard for everyone.”

The closure compelled more

than 30 teachers at Meigs Middle to scramble to modify their carefully crafted lesson plans to cater to the safety and health of their students.

Across the country, most K-12 schools shut in spring in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.

The abrupt move worked well with some districts but was a complete disappointment for others.

In the days after the break, Coe said the school recommended that teachers create packets for students to pick up and drop off Challenge|Continued to page 19

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

SPOTTED ON SOCI AL

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

Page 19

CHALLENGE |Continued from page 17 in lieu of in-person classes.

These packets, pocket folders with sheets of instruction and homework inside, were left to the teachers’ discretion. It was an experiment that the school has never done before.

Because of the special needs of his students, Coe had to make individualized packets for each.

Math, he said, to no surprise, was the most challenging.

He decided on a two-week interval for his students to complete the packets, requiring parents to drop them off each time. Coe made the first batch available for pick up on Sunday, March 31, and due two Sundays later, on April 14.

“There were a lot of packets that came back; more than we expected,” Coe said, who, along with his colleagues, thought about half the stu-

dents would return the assignments. For his class of 10, he got everything back, though some came past the deadline.

But as weeks passed, the return rate dipped. Teachers, then, collaborated with parents in distributing these packets.

The most convenient way: to incorporate these with the food drop off.

The food program was launched by the Tennessee Department of Human Services and the Tennessee Department of Education in response to school cancellations due to the pandemic.

A bag, according to Coe, will usually contain non-perishables such as cereal and chips, as well as food usually served during school lunches, which include bread, pizza, chicken patties, fresh fruits, and vegetables.

“It’s a small community,” Coe said. “Some parents requested if their packets could be delivered with the food.”

Getting the packets into the students’ hands was one thing, but getting them to understand the lessons was another. Coe found himself checking in with his students two to three times a week through their parents, depending on the need of the student.

All over the country, the forced shut down of many schools due to the coronavirus ultimately transformed the ways teachers teach and students learn. It has also challenged long-held views of the roles of parents, teachers, and students in the education system.

The heavy reliance on remote learning, in particular, has magnified existing socio-

economic disparities in rural areas, from access to the internet and devices to the willingness and the capability of parents to steer learning at home.

“The internet is part of the whole issue of rebuilding schools for the 21st century,” Oleta Fitzgerald, director of the Children’s Defense Fund-Southern Regional Office. Oleta added that the pandemic has highlighted the inequalities many students face, hurting those who are more financially strapped.

According to the latest report of the Federal Communications Commission, 21 million Americans lacked broadband internet. The research group Broadband estimates the number to be closer to 42 million.

BOARD |Continued from page 13 and we look at this as an indication that we’re asking the right questions.

LONGVIEW POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICE AREA REPRESENTATIVES & POLICE OUTREACH SERVICES TEAM

FUEL STORAGE TANK

Board members also approved a change order for the Above-Ground Fuel Storage Tank Installation Project at the LISD transportation facility.

Joey Jones, LISD Chief Financial Officer, said cost for the additional work is $40,000 “We’re requesting this change order to enhance the scope of the project to include the reorganization of the fuel island,” he said.

IN OTHER NEWS

Board members also approved Student Accident/ Athletic Insurance Coverage and Catastrophic Coverage for 2020-21; Letter of Engagement for the Fiscal year 2020 Financial Audit; Minutes from meetings on June 22nd and 24th; the 2019-20 Third Quarter Investment Report; Budget Amendment No. 11; the Board Time-Use Tracker, and a $1,000 donation from the WalMart on Estes Parkway as part of the STEAM Fair Community Grant Program.

Beat 20

Ofc. Misty Ryan 903-331-2541 PAR 20

Ofc. Chris Clayton 903-424-6212 PAR 10

Beat 10

Ofc. Luke Altman 903-431-5369 PAR 40

Beat 30

Ofc. Maira Villela 903-720-6656 PAR 30

Beat 60 Ofc. Jeff Hall 903-424-7725 PAR 50

Beat 50

FOR MORE INFO

Trustees usually meet in the boardroom of the LISD Education Support Center, but often set special-called meetings at various locations around the district. The next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 26th.

Due to public health protocols currently in place, the public will not be admitted into the trustees’ boardroom. The meeting will also be streamed online at LISD.org/Board roomLive.

Ofc. LaDarian Brown 903-431-1307 PAR 60

Sgt. Kendric Montgomery 903-619-0124 PAR SUPERVISOR

POST

Ofc. Allan Whitlock 903-331-1979

Ofc. Ronald Duncan 903-331-1870

Beat 40

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 17, 2020

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