This is a daily update from Leander ISD on our response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This is an active and ongoing situation. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our COVID-19 webpage. 

The Board of Trustees approved paying employees while the school facilities remain closed as the district responds to the coronavirus global pandemic (COVID-19). 

During an emergency meeting held Thursday night virtually, the Board granted authority for Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D., to adjust policy DEA (Local) to pay employees. Trustees also approved the district’s creation of a premium pay program to compensate specific, non-exempt employees who perform essential duties to keep the district operating.

“I commend our team for working so hard this week, during Spring Break, to make our virtual meeting possible,” Board President Trish Bode said. “We can preserve the Board’s role as the elected representatives of our district while taking care of our employees.”

In moving forward in response to COVID-19, the district will make every attempt to continue hosting Board meetings, bringing the action for Trustees to approve. Governor Greg Abbott granted public entities the ability to host telephonic or videoconference meetings. 

“These are trying times as we deal with global pandemic impacting all of our families,” Gearing said. “I really appreciate the leadership of the Board, allowing us to keep managing the school district and running effectively as this crisis unrolls. Their action takes care of our students by taking care of the people who make our schools run. We are better together, even when we are apart.”

The district suspended normal school operations through April 5 as the Austin region, state and nation work to stop the spread of COVID-19. As an ongoing situation that is changing daily, members of the Leander ISD community can visit the district’s COVID-19 webpage for more details. 

Principals and supervisors will communicate details to employees for premium pay and work duties from March 23 through April 3. Teachers will be in virtual meetings for planning and learning starting March 23. Foodservice will begin for students on March 24. Teachers will begin contacting students and parents on March 25 to talk about distance learning opportunities. 

The district plans on holding its regular board meeting on March 26, 2020. That meeting is the monthly meeting following the March 12 agenda review meeting