LGISD School Board Talks COVID Rates, Track & Turf
Superintendent Bill Wagner received word from the state commissioner of education that from August to December, only 2% of students in public schools across the state tested positive for COVID-19 and 5% of staff. These low percentages indicate that schools are doing a good job of enforcing safety protocols and the protocols are working.
The district began testing students for COVID-19 (with parents’ permission) beginning in January of the year. So far, they have tested 17 students and 7 were found to be positive.
The current enrollment is 1,851 with 63 students receiving instruction online. There are 40 at the elementary campus, 12 at the middle school and 11 at the high school. This is down from the numbers during the first semester.
Assistant Superintendent Stacy Eilers told the board that the elementary and middle school UIL contest has been canceled due to concern for the safety of the students. The high school academic UIL event will take place in La Grange this year. The first event, Cross X debate, will be held on Feb. 2 at Randolph Recreation Center. UIL One-Act Play will take place on March 12 at the Performing Arts Center in La Grange. The other contests will be occurring beginning the week of March 22 and continuing through April 1. The majority of the events will be held on Thursday, March 25 at the Norma Webb Center and the Randolph Recreation Center.
Director of Operations Sharon Muzny reported that almost all furniture has been moved into the new elementary school office. There is a plan to add some oak trees to the elementary campus. She stated that there have been several leaks in the roof of the high school cafeteria and it is becoming a problem. The roof will need to be replaced soon and bids are being sought to present to the board at a future meeting.
The new transportation software program is ready to implement. The tablets will have a navigation system with the routes and stops predetermined for each bus. The system will be hands free. The students for each route will be in the system and when fully operational, the students will be issued an RFID card that they will scan when they get on and off the bus each day.
New Track and Field
The administration has been gathering information about the possibility of making renovations to the track and field at Leopard Stadium which would include installing an 8-lane track and a turf field. The administration ordered a survey of the areas around and inside the stadium fence from BEFCO Engineers of La Grange. The survey was a necessary step to help determine the cost of the project. Tony Nielsen of Claycomb Architects presented a preliminary drawing and budget for the project at Monday night’s meeting.
If this is a project that the board wishes to move forward on, the estimated budget for the it is to be $2-2.5 million dollars. There is $1,044,000 available in the Capital Projects Fund with the additional funds needed to come from the Fund Balance to complete the project. The administration will visit two completed tracks by different installers to help in the decision.
School Board Election
Two places on the La Grange ISD Board of Trustees are up for election for the school board election to be held on May 1 of this year. Dr. Kari Brawley currently holds Place 6 and Dr. Karen Roberts holds Place 7. Anyone interested in running for either of these board positions must submit the paperwork at the LGISD administration office located at 560 N. Monroe, La Grange by 5 p.m. on Feb. 12, 2021. Early voting will be from April 19, 2021 to April 27, 2021 at the courthouse and election day will be May 1, 2021 at City Hall.
Construction Update
Construction at the new elementary school is almost complete. They are working on the canopies for the performing arts center and the student services and technology center. The final punch list items are to be completed soon.
2021-2022 Calendar
The 2021-2022 draft calendar was discussed, but nothing is ready to be approved at this time. The faculty advisory committee will meet again in February and the calendar will be discussed further at the February board meeting.