In his state-of-the-district address for Mineola ISD Monday, Superintendent Cody Mize addressed the numerous ways that COVID-19 has impacted public education, starting his remarks with that “ugly word” that we are all tired of hearing about.

It is a very real thing, Mize said at the luncheon hosted by the Mineola Rotary Club.

March 13, 2020. Mize said it is a date he remembers almost like 9-11.

He was in the process of returning from a Spring Break trip on that Friday when he got a text that the boys state high school basketball tournament had been shut down.

It raised many questions.

At first, the students were excited when spring break was extended. But then came the terrible realization that they would not see their friends for the rest of the semester, Mize said.

It brought about unprecedented change in the school business, as in most things.

Mineola was fortunate, he said, to be prepared for remote learning with every student having access to an electronic device.

That type of learning is tough, though, Mize noted.

The first event back was graduation for the Class of 2020.

It showed the value of live-streaming events, something that became quite popular and will continue.

Moving to the new school year just begun, Mize said the delta variant has changed things. In the first week and a half of school, MISD has reported 15 student and three staff cases.

“Our goal is to keep the doors open,” he said. That is important for the community, the economy and the students.

Having rapid testing ability has made a difference for the district, he explained.

The district has also sponsored vaccination clinics and will do so again Aug. 30 for anyone in the community.

Community support has been critical to MISD, he said.

With masks and vaccines, people from each side can find an expert on YouTube to support their view, and in the end, “I don’t know,” he related.

The district took a big risk March 29 when it made face masks optional. Mize said he reviewed his message to the community 15 times before he pushed it out, expecting some backlash.

There was not a single negative comment.

“We’re going to make it through,” he said.

He explained the district’s mission is to educate kids.

Mize reviewed the most recent state test results that showed that, even during a pandemic, Mineola would have earned an “A” on the state’s A-F grading system.

That’s a testimony to the teacher, administrators and support staff, he said.

Next Mize reviewed the agreement with Tyler Junior College to implement the TJC Promise Scholarship in the district, starting with this year’s freshman class.

It is a game changer, Mize said. Students who show up, work hard and contribute to the community can attend TJC at no cost, whether it’s to gain work skills, industry certification or take basic courses before transferring to a four-year school.

“It’s an opportunity to change their life,” he said.

A Mineola graduate has already made a $103,000 donation to help support the program, and Mize noted the district will continue to work to secure financing.

Mize explored the district’s career and technical education programs, which assist students not necessarily going to college.

Mineola offers world-class programs, he said, including auto mechanics and HVAC systems.

The district is serving students from surrounding schools with CTE programs and also sending MISD students to other districts, such as the fire and EMS training offered at Grand Saline.

“We need those people in industry,” he said. “We need those (education) pathways for kids.”

The district also offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, and it is important for students to get plugged into the district and get involved, he said.

The high school band hall project is nearing completion, and Mize outlined how the unprecedented federal funds ($5.2 million) coming to the district will help pay for that project, along with flooring and air conditioning upgrades.

The district is working to identify what the next facility project might be, and he invited citizen input.

Any good organization boils down to the people, Mize said, and MISD has fantastic people and has no problem filling open positions, unlike some districts.

Educating students is about building a better future for our country, he said, and those students will one day be sitting in the audience as the community leaders.

It is a partnership with families and communities.

The best teachers build purposeful relationships with students to motivate them.

“This is our responsibility, and we are embracing it,” he concluded.