Board discusses 4-day week

Coldspring Intermediate Principal Paula McClendon was proud to introduce this month's school board meeting pledge leaders, CIS students Evelyn Sanchez and Peyton Sudderth.

Special to the News-Times

COLDSPRING — The Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD Board of Trustees discussed moving to a 4-day school week, possibly to start next year.

At its regular monthly meeting on Sept. 26, Superintendent Dr. Bryan Taulton informed the board about the process the district is undertaking to explore the option for the 2023-24 school year. 

Taulton said the switch would be in an effort to recruit and retain teachers in a highly competitive job market due to the statewide teacher shortage. 

He also said that the results of surveys that were sent to parents and guardians, employees, and high school students were in the majority favorable to the change. 

The calendar would be part of a three-year pilot program during which data would be reviewed to monitor the results in order to gauge its effectiveness and impact on student learning, he said. 

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More information can be found on the COCISD website at https://www.cocisd.org/Domain/706. There will be a Town Hall meeting from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at the Jones Educational Complex to present draft calendars and discuss the plan.

Before the meeting began, the Board and district staff and administrators were treated to a delicious meal prepared and served by Coldspring-Oakhurst High School Instructor Chef Joel Casiday’s Advanced Culinary Arts students. Chicken fettucine alfredo was paired with a tossed Italian vinaigrette salad, oven-roasted garlic broccoli, focaccia bread, and tiramisu for dessert. 

To start the meeting, Board President Paul Buchanan led the Invocation and Principal Paula McClendon introduced this month’s pledge leaders, Coldspring Intermediate students Evelyn Sanchez and Peyton Sudderth.

In other business, the board:

•approved the Local Investment Policy and Strategies; and

•approved amendments to the 2022-27 District of Innovation Plan.

The next regular meeting of the COCISD Board of Trustees will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24, at the Jones Educational Complex, 125 FM 1514, in Coldspring.