Hosack discusses COVID-19 concerns, current plan for senior class events, rest of school year
The custodial staff begins a deep clean of the Mac campus on Friday March 13, wiping down the tables in the cafeteria. Originally the deep clean was to take place during spring break, but because of the districtwide cancellation of school on March 13, administrators decided to start the deep clean early. Photo by Dave Winter.
March 20, 2020
In a very special edition of our podcast, co-hosts Stella Shenkman and JK Smith share a phone conversation with Principal Brandi Hosack today, in which they discussed how the current school year will unfold in the wake of changes enacted to restrict the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the end of the day, my No. 1 goal is to make sure that everyone is safe. … We can work through the academics together, but we all have to be safe and healthy first before we can do that.
— principal Brandi Hosack
After soliciting questions from McCallum students and community members via the @Macjournalism Instagram account, Shenkman and Smith inquired about how the rest of the school year will play out: how online classes will work, how graduation will be impacted and what the school will do to protect the health and wellness of its students. During the phone interview Principal Hosack answered many students’ questions to the best of her knowledge as she, like all campus administrators from all over AISD, receives new information every day.
“I can only answer questions to the best of my ability right now because as you know our society is changing with basically a new set of circumstances every 24 hours,” Hosack said. “In the next couple of days of cancelled classes, I’m going to be in campus leadership conferences with other principals all day long to try and mitigate the growing situation.”
During the interview Principal Hosack confirmed that during the next two weeks of extended spring break, classes are completely cancelled in both the physical classroom as well as via the internet. She also informed the audience that during the two week extension teachers all over AISD will use this time to create lesson plans if digital learning should start on April 6.
“At the end of the day, my No. 1 goal is to make sure that everyone is safe,” Hosack said. “I promise you that your safety is at the forefront of [the district’s] mind. We can work through the academics together, but we all have to be safe and healthy first before we can do that.”
DISCLAIMER: Preaching and practicing social distancing, we conducted this interview over the phone, so the audio quality is not we have achieved in previous episodes in our podcast studio. We feel like the content of this interview made it worth sharing despite some audio issues that you may notice.
![A crowded scene from Austin City Limits in 2019. This years ACL will most likely look different. Senior Lila Plummer is relieved that mask and vaccine mandates are in place. I got [the tickets] before, but I had the idea that it wasn’t 100% that I would be able to go, especially with the Delta cases being so bad right when I bought them,” Plummer said. “But now with the precautions and cases seeming to get a little bit better, I do feel more comfortable and happy about that, because I worried I was gonna have to sell them.”](https://macshieldonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/acl-475x390.jpg)
Elaine Bohls-Graham • Mar 20, 2020 at 5:15 pm
Thank you Ms. Hosack.
To James Martinez: I am curious as to just how are you able to ask this question without being on the Internet?
Ms Hosack, in the podcast, does discuss what the District and our community partners are trying to do to help with the internet issue. Last fall, if you needed a hotspot, and were eligible, then there was a program that would get one, to you, but you had to let us know that you needed to be considered. We posted flyers, on campus, and made announcements in our classrooms, as well as gave names to Mr, Featherstone. He has been the AP in charge of this, last year and this year.
Also, many of the cable and cell phone companies are giving internet access, for free, if you are one of their customers. This may include unlimited data access. This is also being offered to new customers. If you have a cell phone or cable, call your customer service number and ask. As with everything, you will be asked questions to see if you qualify, as a student.
Additionally, many of them are also allowing for free access to their hotspots, throughout their networks.
I hope this helps you find a solution to your inquiry.
James Martinez • Mar 20, 2020 at 3:05 pm
How am I supposed to do online classes with no WiFi at home.