Shepherd ISD Board approves additional leave

District Librarian Erin Goad, along with other members of the Shepherd School District, recognized the Shepherd Intermediate Library Art Contest winners. Students were encouraged to submit an entry — painting, writing, photograph, or a drawing — which included information about an animal. Those winners include: Third Grade, Mixed Media – Christopher Cabrera, Photography – Rylan Firmin, and Painting & Drawing – Olivia Payton; Fourth Grade, Mixed Media – Devin Wedergren, Photography – Josie Guereque, Writing – Catherine Santiago, and Painting & Drawing – Briley White; and Fifth Grade, Mixed Media – Carol Brown, Photography – Harley Newton, Writing – Kaitlyn Brown, and Painting & Drawing – Karlee McGee. (Courtesy Photo)

By Tony Farkas
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SHEPHERD — The Shepherd ISD Board of Managers will continue offering extended leave to staff members who test positive for COVID.

The vote was at the Sept. 16 regular meeting.

Superintendent Jason Hewitt said the days shall be capped at 10 days per employee for the school year, and the days will be retroactive. Upon verification of employees who were COVID positive, the district will restore any local/state days or comp time taken.

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Additionally, the district will provide a COVID-19 pandemic staff retention incentive of $500 to each full-time and part-time staff member for extraordinary work performed through the fall. Each employee is eligible for only one stipend and must be employed by the district on the date of distribution. 

The one-time payment will be paid in a lump sum to the eligible employees in December.

In a separate matter, the board gave its approval to the administration to explore the possibility of providing a child-care program for its employees. An amendment to the budget to the Fiscal Year 2022 budget for $100,000 was approved, which will be used to hire a coordinator and begin the process to become a state-licensed facility.

In other business, the board;

• recognized Robbins Wonderland Craftory as a Pirate Partner. Jacob and Kayla Robbins have signed an agreement with SISD to create, sell, and donate half of the proceeds from selling tumblers with the SISD logo on it at home football games;
• approved the senior trip to Disney in Orlando, Fla.;
• approved the student trip to Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention;
• approved the Board of Managers waiver for class sizes exceeding 22 enrolled students in Kindergarten through fourth grade in accordance with the District of Innovation plan;
• approved a physician services agreement by and between Texas Children's Hospital and Shepherd ISD;
• approved a resolution to compensate employees due to school emergency closure for Hurricane Nicholas;
• approved the acceptance of the certification of unopposed candidates for Position 6 of the Shepherd ISD Board of Trustees election on Nov. 2;
• approved the cancellation of the Shepherd ISD Board of Trustee election on Nov. 2;
• approved a resolution delegating authority to the superintendent to act during COVID-19 emergency closure and suspension of instruction; and
• approved a waiver for changing the maximum class size exception for pre-K classes.

The Shepherd ISD Anchor Award, given to staff members who demonstrate a high level of service to our students, families, schools, district and community, were given to teacher Heather Phelps (SIS), paraprofessional Dany Estrada (SIS), and auxiliary staff member Kristin Barnett. (Courtesy Photo)