HOUSTON – The next three Fridays will be holidays for students and planning days for staff in the Aldine Independent School District.
The district said students will be off Jan. 28, Feb. 4 and Feb. 11, but all campus-based staff will report to their school.
In an online message spelling out the change, the superintendent noted increased workloads for staff and teacher shortages due to COVID-19.
“During these challenging times, we want to ensure that our teachers have the necessary time to be fully prepared so they can provide our students with the best learning experience possible,” Dr. LaTonya Goffney wrote.
“I think it’s a good idea because, with all the overload that the teachers are having to deal with right now due to the COVID situation, I think it’ll get the teachers a little more organized,” said parent Erica Herrera.
Some people who spoke with KPRC 2 took issue with the timing. The school board approved the change on Monday.
“It’s kind of short notice for everybody to now find out and be able to figure out what we’re going to do as far as with our kids and stuff, especially the parents who work,” said parent Mariah Butcher.
The union that represents teachers said the planning time is needed.
“We want the parents to know that this was needed because the educators are feeling overwhelmed,” said Candis Houston, president of the Aldine American Federation of Teachers. “We are so thankful that our district took one of our suggestions of how we can assist teachers during this time and one of the things was they needed more planning time.”
Loretta Lang is chair of Aldine AFT’s health and safety committee and a teacher.
“Just know that we won’t be sitting idly by on Fridays because we’re trying to catch up so we don’t have to work so hard on weekends and after school,” Lang said.
The school district said students will not have to make up the three days.