The Alice ISD School Board voted unanimously to delay the start of the 2020-2021 school year from Aug. 24 to Sept. 8 at an emergency meeting Tuesday night.
Administrators requested the delay to ensure all students have the devices and WiFi connectivity needed to take online classes, which are the only classes the district will offer for at least the first several weeks because of COVID-19 concerns.
“That’ll give us a little more time to accommodate all of our students," AISD Public Information Officer Ofelia Hunter said. "We want to make sure that they’re all prepared."
Hunter said the district already has handed out more than 2,200 devices, such as tablets, and more are on the way.
“We are waiting on another shipment of almost 1,500 devices," she said. "So, yes, we will be able to accommodate every student in Alice ISD that needs it."
Some of those devices are expected to be delivered by the end of the week, with the remainder due to arrive the first week of September.
Some AISD parents support delaying the start of the school year.
“I really wouldn’t mind if they push it up to September 8," Senisa Pina said.
Another mother was thankful that she doesn't have to come up with the money to buy devices for her children.
“I think we’d be struggling a little bit,” Danielle Reyes said.
The two-week delay to the start of the school year does not alter the district's calendar. Holidays and other days off for students and teachers remain the same.
The only change will be an added five minutes of instruction time for some grade levels.