Pandemic paid sick leave benefits for employees in the WACO Community School District have been extended until March 31st.

Superintendent Chris Armstrong says the school board approved the extension of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) after the district was able to secure additional funding. Armstrong feels it was also the right thing to do, “In light of everything that’s gone on and how well our staff handled the (pandemic) situation, we’ve been very fortunate to have a staff that has great professionalism and has really stepped up and helped when we’ve had situations in which we’ve been short-staffed, and we felt it was in the best interest of the district to extend that for a time. We had a request from our (education) association leaders to do that through March.”

Armstrong says about a dozen staff members have utilized the COVID-19 paid sick leave program either for themselves or caring for a family member. He credits the efforts of staff, parents and students in following safety protocols which have enabled the district to be 100% in person learning since the school year began.