Meridian ISD to close campuses for total solar eclipse

Meridian ISD to close campuses for total solar eclipse Subhead Supt. Davis encourages feedback on survey exploring Pre-K program News Staff Wed, 03/06/2024 - 05:46 Image Body

Meridian Independent School District will be closed on Monday, April 8, for the total solar eclipse.

This district-wide closure was announced during the first “Digital Dialogue” hosted by Meridian ISD Superintendent Dana Davis on Thursday, February 29.

Supt. Davis said that the Meridian ISD Board of Education approved the closure at its regular meeting on Monday, February 26.

“This will be a student and staff holiday, and it won’t affect any of our other holidays or bad weather days,” she said. “We hope all of our students can enjoy watching the eclipse from home.”

During the dialogue, Supt. Davis also announced that MISD is considering introducing a Pre-Kindergarten program for three-year-old children in Meridian.

“Your input is crucial in helping us gauge the interest and potential impact of such a program,” Davis said. “Please take a few minutes to complete this survey to help us understand the demand and tailor the program to meet your needs. Thank you for your participation!”

If you are interested or know someone who has a student who will be three years old by September 1, 2024, complete the survey at https://forms.gle/ LX8WNjrzVjZJhFfX6 Supt. Davis reminded the audience that Meridian ISD has an app that assists parents and guardians with keeping up with news and events happening at MISD.

The app is available for download on Apple’s App Store and Google Play, both of which are linked from the district’s website at www.MeridianISD.org.

Sixth-grade student Sadie Yant and first-grade teacher Estafana Whitmer served with Supt. Davis as co-hosts for the inaugural dialogue.

Topics covered during the Digital Dialogue included public schools funding, students’ daily attendance, doctor’s appointments as well as the experiences of teaching and learning at Meridian ISD.

Yant said that she aspired to have an acting career after she recently participated in a one-act play that won a first-place award.

“I really think I benefited from it,” she said. “So when I get older, I’d very much like to become an actress.”

Whitmer said she became a classroom for public schooling and her friends’ use of school as a safe space and outlet for personal learning and growth.

“[They] made me want to serve my community and teach,” Whitmer said.

This year is Whitmer’s second year as a classroom teacher at Meridian Elementary School. She is a 2018 graduate of Meridian High School who received a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University.

If you have questions you would like to have answered during our next Digital Dialogue event, submit them to Digital_ Dialogue@meridianisd.org.