SCHOOL NEWS
Texas Education Agency issues new start guidelines
AUSTIN, Texas – July 17, 2020 – Last week, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released public health planning guidance for the 2020-21 academic year in order to well prepare students, teachers, and staff to safely return to school campuses for daily, in-person instruction. Given the latest developments around COVID-19, TEA is issuing important updates to the guidance. In response to the varying public health realities of each Texas community, these changes give the needed flexibility for schools to effectively provide a smooth transition for students, teachers, and staff so that they will experience the safest and least disruptive mode of learning during the beginning of the school year.
School systems will now be able to temporarily limit access to on-campus instruction for the first four weeks of school. After the first four weeks, a school system can continue to limit access to on-campus instruction for an additional four weeks, if needed, with a board-approved waiver request to TEA.
Click here to view Commissioner Morath’s video message to Texas teachers and parents.
TEA guidelines include important exceptions for students; specifically, any family that lacks Internet access at home and/or requires devices for students learning virtually. Any student requiring on-campus instruction during this period—i.e. those who need reliable access to technology—will still be entitled to on-campus instruction every day during this transition period.
Local school boards for districts in areas with high levels of community spread also retain the flexibility to delay the start of the school year.
Additional changes provide school systems with the ability to convert high schools—with school board approval—to a full-time hybrid model once students have transitioned back to on-campus instruction. This model will provide for a more socially distanced school experience, where students receive a portion of their instruction on-campus and a portion of their instruction remotely at home.
One week prior to the start of on-campus activities and instruction, school systems must post for parents and the general public a summary of the plan—developed in consultation with their teachers, staff, and parents—that they will follow to mitigate COVID-19 spread in their schools based on the requirements and recommendations outlined in TEA’s updated public health planning guidance.
The cast and crew of “Interview,” Gold-Burg High School’s one-act play will perform at around 2:15 p.m. on April 26 for regional competition in the Plano Independent School District Robinson Fine Arts Center.
Play Director Linda Fitzner said the day will open with the first performance at 8 a.m. and continue in about one hour intervals with a break for lunch. Gold-Burg has drawn the final play of the day that opens with Sidney high, Slidell, Avery, Brookesmith, Koppel and Gold-Burg.
Two plays that represent the Region 3, 1A one-act play contest will advance to the University Interscholastic League State 1A One-Act Play Meet at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center on May 13.
Admission charge for the regional contest is $5.25 per day and includes a digital ticketing fee, A OAP day pass for access to the full day of show is $15.25.
Tickets are available at seatyourself.com. Seating is limited.
Montague County has three high schools that will compete in area one-act contests Friday and Saturday.
Bowie High School competes on April 13 at Clyde High School. Director April Word said they perform “A Monster Calls” in the middle of a six-play pack that starts at noon on Saturday. The plays run in about one hour intervals that include set-up.
Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. The contest open s at noon with Eastland High, Ingram Tom Moore HS, Bowie HS, Clyde HS, Ballinger HS and Early HS.
Gold-Burg and Saint Jo High School also compete at area this week on April 12 at Grayson County College in the Cruce Stark auditorium, Denison.
Gold-Burg Director Linda Fitzner said Monday they will did not know the schedule because they were waiting on three competitors from the other districts to know exact time. The Bears are performing “Interview.” The Panthers’ play, “Ago!” is directed by Julie Kline.
TIME UPDATE – Late Tuesday night Fitzner reported Saint Jo will perform at 11:30 a.m. and Gold-Burg at 1:30 p.m. Performances begin at 10 a.m.
Gold-Burg and Saint Jo High School one-act plays advanced to area Thursday edging even closer to state.
Both will perform at Grayson County College on April 12. Watch for schedule details in the Wednesday edition. All three plays from this district including Slidell advanced to area.
Gold-Burg’s “Interview,” directed by Linda Fitzner, received several cast and tech awards. Best All Around Actor went to Corbin Gilbert. Levi Hellinger was All Star Cast with Izzie Rohde and Madison Provost, honorable mention All Star Cast.
Best all-around crew went to Gold-Burg: Joseph Jones, stage manager, Aidan Foster, lights; Alyson Rojas and Eli Freeland, assistant stage manager and Lexie Eaton, sound.
Outstanding individual tech went to Gold-Burg for lights.
Saint Jo’s play, “Ago!” directed by Julie Kline, saw Layla Polk named All Star Cast, Xander Joyner, honorable mention All Star Cast; Julian Luna accepted the light tech award and the group also got the overall cleanest dressing room.
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