$44 million closer to ‘Learning at Home’ this fall in CFISD

Written by Creighton Holub in CFISD High Schools,CFISD middle schools,Cypress News,Cypress-Fairbanks ISD,Greater Katy Area (North),Jersey Village, Texas,Pandemic Response,Texas politics

CYPRESS — The Cypress-Fairbanks ISD school board is slated to approve cellular internet access and devices for students this fall in a special called meeting this upcoming Tuesday (July 7, 2020) at noon.

The board of trustees approved the annual billion dollar budget last month, with $10 million allotted to mitigate the COVID-19 coronavirus. However, considering the recent surge of infections across the state and especially Harris County, the odds of in-person public schooling are looking slimmer with time beginning to run out on the clock before school is scheduled to begin in Cypress and Jersey Village.

The board of trustees will decide on authorizing Dr. Mark Henry, CFISD superintendent, to purchase devices and cellular 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) “hot spots” for Cypress-area students for use in the upcoming school year.

The special called meeting has only a single action item on the agenda: Authorizing the purchase of said devices and “other items needed to support a one-to-one solution.” According to the meeting’s agenda, the solution would top off at $44 million, and go through the Texas Department of Information Resources.

In a June 25 email, CFISD stated that while the Texas Education Agency paused on providing guidance for reopening schools for face-to-face instruction, the state will fully fund school districts for providing online classes.

“We are happy to report TEA announced that school districts would receive full funding for students who choose to engage in remote instruction,” according to the email. “This is excellent news because it allows students to remain enrolled in CFISD, whether they choose to engage in face-to-face or remote instruction. The curriculum and instruction department is diligently working to make significant improvements to the district’s online platform.”

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Creighton Holub

Civilian photographer and journalist turned Army public affairs operator and combat veteran turned publisher. Winner of local, regional, state and national awards in news, photography and journalism.

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