Trustees to conduct meeting today by telephone for public

Several COVID-19 related items will be considered at Texarkana Independent School District’s Board of Trustees meeting that will be conducted by telephone— and available for the public access and listen to — at 11:30 a.m. today.

Those items include:

■ consideration/approval of 2019-20 COVID-19 missed school day waiver attestation statement

■ consideration/approval of a resolution regarding wage payments for emergency school closings during COVID-19 pandemic

■ consideration/approval of order declaring unopposed candidates elected/cancellation of trustee election

■ consideration/approval of a resolution relating to emergency modifications to policies, closure of district schools, hiring and contract renewal authority and the expenditure of public funds during the governor-declared state of disaster to mitigate affects of COVID-19

Other items on the agenda include:

■ consideration/approval of superintendent’s contract ■ a closed session, ■ open forum, ■ special reports and superintendent’s information to board, ■ legislative report, ■ consideration/approval of personnel items,

■ personnel resignations/retirements,

■ and personnel elections/assignments

On March 16, Gov. Greg Abbott granted a request by Attorney General Ken Paxton to temporarily suspend a limited number of open meetings laws to the extent necessary to allow telephonic or videoconference meetings in response to the coronavirus.

At least a quorum of the TISD board will be participating by telephone call in accordance with the Texas Government Code.

Members of the public may access this meeting by calling 903 798-6883.

Those calling in can address the board in the open forum portion of the meeting but the board cannot act on any item that is not on today’s agenda.

Any concern could either be handled by the administration or it could possibly be placed on a future agenda as an item for consideration.