Hughes Springs seeks to extend school hours in 2016-2017

By: J. Leslie Riseden

Special Contributor to The Steel Country Bee

With unanimous approval, the Hughes Springs Independent School District voted to present to the Texas Education Agency a revised school calendar that will end the school day at 3:30 p.m. instead of the current 3:10 p.m. This revised schedule, presented by Superintendent Sarah Dildine at the regular meeting of the Hughes Springs ISD Board on March 14, will include 169 instructional days instead of the present 173. The new school calendar also includes a teacher’s work day at the end of each six week period, as well as additional minutes for unplanned early release for student events, competitions and celebrations, without the need to use “weather days.”

Work continues on the renovations for the new Life Skills building, which is scheduled for completion at the end of April. When Life Skills moves into its new building, work will begin on conversion of the current Life Skills building to a Culinary Arts facility. In related business, the Board approved the School District Teaching Certificate for Kelly Whittington for Culinary Arts.

The Board also approved a resolution to partner with the Boys and Girls Club of Big Pines on a state grant, which will expand Hughes Springs’ after-school program. Hughes Springs seeks to extend school hours in 2016-2017