During a special meeting June 24th, the Longview ISD Board of Trustees voted to continue the voluntary desegregation plan from 2018.
The district adopted the voluntary desegregation order two years ago to comply with rules set by the Department of Education’s Magnet Schools Assistance Program.
Dr. Craig Coleman, LISD Director of Innovation, said the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights 'requires districts that are operating under a voluntary desegregation plan to provide a signed letter each year that the district is implementing the voluntary desegregation plan.'
LISD Board President Ginia Northcutt wrote a letter to Kenneth Marcus, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, confirming that the district will continue to implement the voluntary desegregation plan and all LISD magnet programs 'will operate as described in the application.'
District Calendar
Board members also received results of a survey released last week about different calendar options and start dates for the coming school year, including one suggested by the Texas Education Agency.
The results of the survey indicated that more than half of respondents preferred not to make any changes to the original district calendar that was approved on March 18th.
Classes are currently scheduled to begin Aug. 17, 2020 and end May 25, 2021, but Dr. James Wilcox, Superintendent of Schools, said the administration 'will continue to monitor the ongoing situation and follow guidance from the Texas Education Agency, Gov. Greg Abbott, and local officials.'
'Any information related to the 2020-2021 calendar is subject to change, and we will keep you informed on our district website, social media, and through all-calls/emails,' he said.
Lunch Prices
Trustees also unanimously approved increasing lunch prices to $3, in accordance with new requirements from the Texas Department of Agriculture.
According to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-296) Texas schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program must create a district-wide lunch price average equal to or more than the amount established by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
In other news...
Board members also unanimously approved new Summer School Safety Protocols (download document here) in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; the 2020-2021 Student Code of Conduct (download document here or aquí para Español); as well as the official minutes of the June 8th Regular Meeting and June 14th Board Workshop.
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. July 13th.
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/BoardroomLive.
For more information about the Longview ISD Board of Trustees please click here.