Schools
Austin ISD Votes To Delay Classes Until September
Given the ongoing reach of coronavirus, the board of trustees also agreed in-person learning won't start until at least November.
AUSTIN, TX — The Austin ISD board of trustees early Friday voted to delaythe start of classes util after Labor Day on Sept. 8 in a delay of three weeks from what originally was planned. Trustees also agreed to petition the Texas Education Agency to allow for in-person schooling no sooner than Nov. 3 given an ongoing reach of the new coronavirus.
The vote means virtual, or remote, learning will continue until after Labor Day. The school district trustees also voted to make the school day 10 minutes longer than usual while ending the school year on June 3 to compensate for missed days brought on by the pandemic.
The board meeting was broadcast live starting Thursday evening at 9 p.m. but the vote took place early Friday at around 3:15 a.m. after hundreds of residents' public input and trustees' discussion took some six hours.
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Austin ISD Superintendent Dr. Paul Cruz noted the proposed changes are based on Austin Public Health guidelines dissuading in-person instruction before Sept. 7. Cruz assured teachers would receive their pay on time despite the delayed start time for classes, and no salary cuts on staff pay are contemplated.
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