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School _me extended with more days off, one vacant posi_on remaining a_er new hire
Rice Consolidated Independent School District is experimenting this school season with a new hybrid calendar after unanimously approving to incorporate more days off for students and staff throughout the year at their recent school board meeting last Monday, July 15.
The changes include days off every second and fourth Friday of every month, opting for longer instructional days to compensate. Superintendent Bill Hefner says despite the students going to school a little bit longer compared to previous years, they now have shorter weeks, and employees will have less workdays.
“We saw a member school district take on four-day week but felt we weren’t wanting to do that every single week,” said Hefner. “We basically kept out calendar the same but extended the days by 31 minutes, from 7:50 a.m. to 3:51 p.m. State law requires minutes of instruction now, and our total number of minutes is a little bit more than required.”
Rice CISD board members also approved the hire of a new P.E. teacher after filling all but one vacant position available throughout the district.
Christopher Edwards, the new physical head teacher hired by Rice CISD, was the most recent hire made by the district. Hefner says they’ve gone through several administrative reassignments and moved some principals around and are now just looking to fill a high school English teacher position.
A “missed day pay” resolution was also made regarding Hurricane Beryl after employees were unable to work during the storm, questioning whether they’d still get paid for the missed day.
Hefner says a small group of employees were scheduled to work on the eighth when the school district had to shut down due to “emergency purposes.” He said a resolution was made to compensate that payment for the employees, disregarding them having to make up time.
“When we were shut down and when we have had to shut down for emergency purposes, the board, as previously, typically weather related, always compensated those employees so they did not have to make up that time,” said Hefner. “And so that’s what that resolution allowed for those two staff members who were scheduled to work.”
Hefner says Rice CISD overall are ready to get the ball rolling and is excited for his last year as superintendent. He says with less than two weeks away, they’re ready for the kids.
“We’re ready to get the role of the ball started,” said Hefner. “Kids are going to start reporting July 29th for band and athletic activities, and so that’s less than two weeks away. We’re ready.”
