More class days proposed for Mineola ISD students

By Phil Major
publisher@wood.cm
Posted 1/14/21

Mineola students could spend more days in class next year, if the district adopts a proposed calendar reviewed by the school board Monday.

Superintendent Cody Mize said the 180 days of classes would qualify the district for a grant that would essentially pay for summer school.

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More class days proposed for Mineola ISD students

Posted

Mineola students could spend more days in class next year, if the district adopts a proposed calendar reviewed by the school board Monday.

Superintendent Cody Mize said the 180 days of classes would qualify the district for a grant that would essentially pay for summer school.

In light of areas where students will need to play catch up from missing so much time when schools have been closed, Mize said the ability to have more personalized, tutorial instruction during summer school would be a great benefit.

The current school calendar includes 170 days of instruction.

Moving to a 180-day schedule will leave seven days for teacher in-service training versus the current 10 days.

That will take some effort, as the reading academies for new elementary school teachers require 10 days.

That will be one of the challenges to be addressed as the staff works through the proposed calendar, Mize said.

Board President John Abbott commented that it might be better for teachers to have fewer but more intensive in-service programs.

He added that when the district looks at renewing its District of Innovation status through the state, the new calendar could play a role.

The calendar would move the start of class back to Aug. 11 and extend classes to May 27.

In another calendar matter, Mize said the district has enough hours built in to this year’s calendar that Monday’s snow day will not have to be made up.

The weather also played havoc with the construction site at Mineola High School and Elementary, where a new band hall and additional parking are planned.

Recent rains forced crews to redo the temporary access road in front of the elementary school and revert to the old driveway until the temporary road can be shored up. The district expects to have bids for the next phase of the project on Jan. 19.

After its annual evaluation, the board voted unanimously to extend Mize’s contract one year.

Mize joined the district one year ago and was awarded a contract through June 2024 at that time.

Trustees called the May 1 board election which will have two positions on the ballot, those held by Jay McGough and Daniel Louderman. The school and city will hold a joint election.