The Northwest Independent School District Board of Trustees on Feb. 8 approved a resolution to adjust the 2021 staff calendar and designate March 22, 2021 as a paid nonwork day for all district employees.

The change followed a brief public hearing required by law. Board materials said the one-day benefit recognizes staff work during the COVID-19 pandemic and that the total cost for the district is $769,939.26, equal to one day of payroll. District administrators told the board the payment will not change employees’ paychecks for March and will not require deductions from leave banks because March 22 had been scheduled as a workday on staff calendars.

Why it matters: The board framed the day off as a morale and employee-retention measure tied to pandemic-era staffing efforts delivering remote and in-person instruction under safety protocols. Administration said the payment will be funded from 2021 budgeted payroll across the general fund, federal funds, bond funds and special revenue funds and will not create a net increase in salary expenditures for the year.

Hearing and vote: The board opened a public hearing under Texas Local Government Code Section 180.007 to consider the adjustment and invited public comment; no members of the public spoke during the recorded hearing segment. Trustee Kyle Sprowls moved to approve the resolution; Trustee Judy Hatfield seconded. The motion carried unanimously (7-0).

Implementation notes: Staff said the only caveat is that if the district must use a snow day between now and March 22, the instructional‑minutes calculation could require making up some minutes, possibly a half day, or conducting virtual instruction to preserve TEA-required minutes. The district’s presented terms specify distribution as a paid day off on March 22, 2021, with no deduction from employees’ leave banks.

Context: District officials described the action as a formal acknowledgment of “unprecedented” staff efforts during the pandemic, including implementation of remote learning, maintenance of safety protocols and social-emotional supports.