HSE school administrators reviewed plans for the remainder of this school year and virtual learning options in the next school year Wednesday night, while the board debated the speed of returning the students to in-person classes.  One board member questioned the speed of district surveys to instruct next steps.

Superintendent Allen Bourff told the board a survey is coming for parents of 7th & 8th grade students, and a survey is in the works for high school parents and possibly high school students.  Some families have built themselves around the hybrid system of class attendance being used now, but others want an in-person school experience.  The goal of the surveys would be to measure the community’s views.  A return to classrooms could come as soon as April 12, according the Bourff.  Board member Suzanne Thomas questioned why surveys had not been done earlier, but other board members responded there are good reasons to conduct the survey now.  Bourff said school officials are reviewing the new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance as plans are made for the future.

Assistant Superintendent Matt Kegley briefed board members on plans to offer an all-virtual option for families in the 2021-2022 school year.  There is not enough time to establish virtual schools themselves, so any virtual option will be a program, not a full school.  State lawmakers are looking to fund virtual school at 100% – current law funds virtual schools at 85%.  Kegley acknowledged the stress teachers have been under with in-person and virtual students.  Preliminary plans call for families making a commitment to keep their child in the all-virtual program for a semester, or possibly the entire school year.  Kegley expects to provide more information, and possibly a recommendation, on the a–virtual option at the March 24th board meeting.

In other action, the board approved a $1.4 million bid to resurface parking lots at HSE Schools.  The project had been budgeted at $1.8 million, so the bid came in under the estimates.  A new technology network was approved for HSE High School, replacing the current system which is more than ten years old.  The board also voted to destroy audio recordings of past meetings that are many years old.