The Eanes community is grappling with division during an unusually fraught school board election. For many, the district’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative is at the heart of the divide.
Incumbents Jennifer Champagne, Place 5, and James Spradley, Place 4, were part of the board when the initiative was created last summer and voted this year to make it a board priority. Both said they stand by the initiative
, which included hiring a consultant to examine the district s teaching practices and its traditions, as an important step in making sure all students feel safe in Eanes. The initiative was created in response to community concerns about racism in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis last May, Spradley said.
Eanes teachers, students enjoy a snowy break from class
In-person school was closed to keep teachers and families off the road after yesterday’s snow storm.
Virtual school was closed as well, not only because of concerns over power outages but also because of the state’s funding rules for virtual school, according to spokesperson Claudia McWhorter. The district could not shift instruction online because the Texas Education Agency will not fund days when all students are 100% remote, she said.
Since the district made this decision, the agency has said it will fund remote learning days during inclement weather. McWhorter said there are more inclement weather this year, the district may consider having an all-remote day to avoid the need to make up days later.
The Eanes school district is projecting another bump to 68% in-person enrollment when the spring semester starts on Jan. 5, according to a presentation to the school board Tuesday night.
Bridge Point Elementary School will have the highest percentage of students on campus at 84%, closely followed by Cedar Creek with 82%. Westlake High School had the fewest students select in-person learning, with 55% of students planning to return to campus come January. The rest of the campus
es in the district range from 62% to 77% of students on campus.
At the start of the current grading period on Oct. 19, 61% of district
students selected in-person learning compared to remote. In late September, that number was 52%.