July 27 school board meeting firms up start date, virus mitigation document
WISD board of trustees met on July 27, 2020 to take action on the district’s calendar and virus risk mitigation strategy.
In a new schedule approved by the board, the first day of school for students has been pushed from August 13 to August 17, 2020. Teachers return on August 10.
The meeting was, however, dominated by discussion on the district’s plans for reopening school in the middle of a pandemic, with the board unanimously voting to approve a guidance and virus risk mitigation document that outlines the steps the district will take to protect students and faculty from COVID-19.
Although neighboring school districts in Ennis, Midlothian and Dallas have taken a phase-in strategy either with distance learning transitioning to in-class learning or alternating days for students to return to allow for reduced populations on each campus, Waxahachie ISD will start on the 17th for all of the estimated two-thirds of students whose parents have not opted for online learning.
Social distancing, face masks, hand sanitizer stations in each classroom and on each bus and deep disinfection of school facilities form the major part of the district’s strategy for mitigating risks. Students in third grade and under will not be required to wear face masks.
Waxahachie resident Betty Coleman addressed the board with her concerns about the district’s plan, asking about the policy for allowing younger children to forego face masks, how faculty will be protected when working with students who can’t wear face masks, and how students who are economically disadvantaged can opt for distance learning that requires a substantial financial investment by the student’s family.
“The biggest concern that I have, and I’m just one person, is that we’re moving a little too soon with the outbreak being as it is,” Coleman said.
“Everything that you brought up as a concern is a concerns because we are in an imperfect system with a virus that’s new to us, and we are trying to balance the needs of students and parents who feel like their children can be safe in school and staff and parents who feel like their children can’t be safe in school,” Superintendent Bonnie Cain replied.
Also revealed in the meeting:
• Students will not be checked for a fever as they arrive at school.
• A campus will close if 10% or more of the student body contracts flu-like symptoms.
• Students exposed to a student or faculty with COVID-19 will not necessarily be quarantined.
• Teachers with lingering infections will not be admitted back to their class without a release from their physician.
• Nurse Coordinator Melissa Bousquet implied that some local physicians may feel that the district is opening too soon.
• Limited numbers of high school students may spend lunch in their classrooms or in the courtyard area during pleasant weather to alleviate crowding in the cafeteria.
The full meeting may be viewed below: