Avinger ISD to extend school day in 2016-2017

By J. Leslie Riseden

Special Contributor to The Steel Country Bee

The end-of-the-day school bell will be ringing a little later in Avinger, when the new school year begins in August. AISD principal Dr. Tim Phy explained the new plan at the regular meeting of the AISD School Board April 28. As of January 2016, the Texas Education Agency released a revised standard for compliance with the minimum requirement of classroom days. Each student is required to complete a minimum of 75,600 minutes of classroom teaching, which each school district is allowed to configure in any way that best suits the needs of its students and the community it serves. “The purpose of this method is to allow school districts flexibility,” explained AISD Superintendent Jacqueline Smith. “This way,” added Dr. Phy, “schools are able to allow early-release days for special events and celebrations without having to use weather days.” Beginning with the 2016/17 school year, AISD elementary students in Pre-K to sixth grade will begin school at 8:00 a.m. and be released at 3:27 p.m. Grades 7-12 will begin at 8:05 a.m. and will be released at 3:32 p.m.

In other business, the board voted unanimously to accept 42 transfer students from outside of the Avinger ISD for the 2016-17 school year. As a public school, Avinger ISD is funded by local tax dollars as well as state and federal money. Under TEA rules, any student may apply for a transfer, and it is not uncommon for students in one district to apply for transfer to another district.

Before adjourning, each member of the school board received a commemorative UIL gold medal, identical to the medals awarded to the Avinger Indians basketball team. The “Magnificent Seven”, as the team is known, won the 2016 Division A state championship in March, after defeating the Grady Wildcats 56-30 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.