BISD releases stats for in-class learning/remote learners

The Breckenridge Independent School District released statistics of the total number of students enrolled in the district, and the total of remote learners for the upcoming school year.

Total enrollment is estimated at 1,449 for the 2020-2021 school year and remote learners are estimated at 113. The breakdown in statistics was announced during the Tuesday, August 11 board meeting inside the BISD administration building.

“That is about what I estimated from the beginning,” Bryan Allen, BISD Superintendent said. “When we started getting those surveys back and it was closer to 20 percent, I was a bit surprised and taken aback. As the numbers have settled out, the dust has cleared, and folks have filled out registration packets. The numbers have come back to what I anticipated.”

The total amount of remote learners is divided by all the schools inside the district, with 31 remote learners at East Elementary, 36 learners at South Elementary, 18 learners at Breckenridge junior high, and 38 learners at Breckenridge High School.

School will begin Wednesday, August 19.

BISD superintendent and board members also discussed the possibility of a streaming service system for sports season.

The news comes as the University Interscholastic League approved football to be live-streamed for 2020 season in June.

The ruling will only allow school districts to live-streamed games for the 2020 season. Fans would be able to watch their favorite high school football team and help combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

For games to be livestreamed, both teams have to give permission to allow the game to be broadcasted.

“We purchase a subscription each year to Hudl, that’s our video server for all sports,” Casey Pearce, BISD athletic director said. “If we package that with a streaming group and we stream through that video, we can sell a package for Buckaroos athletics. If we moved junior high indoor sports into the Fine Arts Center and purchase a Hudl focused camera, we could stream out everything that’s on the court.”

The Hudl focus camera is mounted on the wall and with ethernet to stream, citizens would be able to watch Buckaroos sports from the comfort of their own homes. The Hudl program would provide access to home games only and would rely on the opponent school district for streaming away games.

The pricing for the streaming service is yet to be determined and the BISD board members will look into the possibility of providing the service to fans.