Some Fort Worth-area schools announce their return plans. Here’s who did and didn’t.
As coronavirus cases continue to add up, many school districts in Tarrant County still are trying to figure out what fall classes will look like.
Will students be back in their classrooms? Will classes start out online? Will there be a combination of the two?
Many local districts thought they had figured out a plan when Tarrant public health officials — trying to ward off a spike in COVID-19 cases — ordered local schools to hold the first six weeks of classes online.
But then Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday issued a nonbinding guidance stating that health officials couldn’t do that and that only school officials had the authority to “decide whether, when, and how to open school.”
Some school districts, including one in Bexar County, are talking about pushing back against Paxton’s guidance and possibly filing a lawsuit. Others are back to the drawing board.
Parents and students alike are left in limbo, waiting to find out when, how and if school doors will open in a matter of weeks.
In Fort Worth, the school board is holding an emergency online meeting at 8 a.m. Thursday to find out what teachers, parents, community leaders and students want. Officials said during a virtual town hall Tuesday night that they have not yet decided if they will stick with online-only classes or allow in-person classes in mid-August.
“We want to hear your thoughts, beliefs & feelings,” Jacinto Ramos Jr., president of the school board, wrote on Twitter.
School plans
Here’s a look at what some school districts are doing:
Dallas: School officials already delayed the start of school until Sept. 8. And Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa has said he doesn’t know if he agrees with Paxton’s guidance, given that it’s nonbinding. But the district released a revised 2020-21 class schedule that trustees recently approved. And officials said plans are to offer both in-person and online classes when school begins. The district said more information will be shared as it becomes available.
Eagle Mountain-Saginaw: The district posted on Twitter that it “is returning to its original plan to offer both in-person & remote learning options for students.” School officials suggest parents and students review their online plan at emsisd.com/reconnect2020 “and follow our website & district social media for updates.” School will start Aug. 20.
Fort Worth: The Fort Worth school district, which has said classes will start Aug. 17, released a 23-page document the day before the public health order was issued that laid out preliminary plans for the fall 2020 school year. The plan was to provide virtual and in-person learning for students while requiring students and staff to wear masks while on campus. As parents register their students for school, they are given the option of choosing in-person or online learning.
Anyone may watch the Thursday morning school board meeting on Spectrum Channel 192, AT&T Channel 99, Zoom, or on the Fort Worth ISD Live YouTube channel. The link for Zoom access is https://esc11.zoom.us/j/92449250562. Anyone wanting to talk to the board during the public comment portion of the meeting may register to do that by calling 817-814-1956 until 8 a.m. Thursday, spokesman Clint Bond said.
Grapevine-Colleyville: School officials have a 5 p.m. Friday board meeting where they plan to make decisions about the upcoming school year. The update will also be posted at gcisd.net, a spokesperson said.
HEB: School officials are “in marathon meetings and we do not have any definitive information at this time,” a spokesperson said in an email.
Keller: School will begin Aug. 19 and families can choose whether students will attend classes in person or remotely. A special school board of trustees meeting will be held Aug. 3 to discuss this plan “and consider whether any action is necessary for the successful opening of our 2020-21 school year,” the district said in a statement. “We appreciate your patience as we continue to work through this new information.”
Mansfield: School officials on Wednesday announced that all students will start school on Aug. 12, as planned, but classes will be online only until Sept. 8. “This date gives MISD ample time for staff to plan for the instructional flow of rooms with the most current safety protocols,” according to a statement. “It also gives time for the district to assess any additional staffing needs.” Families that choose online learning will continue with those after Sept. 8. More information is available at mansfieldisd.org.
Northwest: School district leaders are reviewing all information right now, but classes are scheduled to start Aug. 20. “All students will begin the year as remote learners at this time,” a spokesman said.
The Arlington school district, which had a meeting scheduled Wednesday evening, did not respond to a Star-Telegram requests for information on when and how their students will return to school.
This story was originally published July 29, 2020 at 3:43 PM.
