To reduce the amount of overtime hours firefighters work while remaining compliant with Fair Labor Standards Act, of FLA, standards, the Hollywood Park City Council voted to transition firefighter’s overtime accrual pay cycle from a 14-day pay cycle to a 24-day pay cycle Dec. 16. 

The gist: Fire Chief Eric Burnside said the new system uses a flat 112 hours per pay period, giving firefighters consistent, predictable paychecks. According to Burnside’s estimates, the move will net the city $4,000 in savings annually. Burnside explained that the savings will come through a higher threshold for overtime pay, which will change from its current threshold of 106 hours to 182 hours.
 

Check out the latest dining stories from across the San Antonio metro, from new smoothie spots to local restaurants relocating and more.

• Smoothie King opens 2nd New Braunfels location
• Swig opens 5th area location near Live Oak soon
• Smoothie King now open within the Schertz Station development
• The Weighted Plate announces plans to reopen in downtown New Braunfels
• Lucky Brew coffee truck set to close in New Braunfels

A new senior care service has just launched across the Boerne area, Hill Country and beyond.

Learn more: Home Helpers Home Care of Boerne launched its services in November, owned and operated by Rachel Fisher.

The local franchise is a part of a nationwide network of in-home care teams.

“Our team provides personalized in-home support, including personal care, companionship, mobility, bathing, grooming, and transfer assistance, transportation and post-surgery recovery care,” Fisher said in an email to Community Impact.

Fisher said the new branch serves not only the Boerne area, but also Fair Oaks Ranch, Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Blanco, Johnson City and other cities and communities throughout the Hill Country.

There are also branches in North San Antonio, New Braunfels and Western San Antonio, according to the company’s website.

One more thing: Home Helpers Home Care primarily specializes in personalized in-home care, treatment and health management for seniors and families, according to their website.

• Serving Boerne, surrounding areas

Texas charter system Harmony Public Schools launched a new virtual learning platform on Jan. 5 that allows students across the state to take high school courses online.

The overview: The Harmony Online Learning program includes dozens of courses aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards, all of which are self-paced, according to a news release.

More details: Students can choose from dozens of courses in core subjects, electives, Advanced Placement and Career and Technical Education, according to the program’s website. The offerings aim to help students complete credit recovery, get ahead with their requirements and access courses not available at their home campus. Credit earned through Harmony may be applied toward high school graduation requirements depending on local district policies, per the release.

One more thing: Interested families can enroll online, and spring courses begin Jan. 12, per the release. The cost of tuition per course is $325, a spokesperson from Harmony Public Schools told Community Impact.