We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about the coronavirus in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. Check back for updates.

Parents, teachers in COVID debate feel ‘shut out’ of Fort Worth ISD’s reopening revote

An online petition and a rally planned in response to a Fort Worth school board meeting on Tuesday reflect the widening gap between those who believe children should immediately return to in-person classes and those who think the district should continue virtual learning.

Last week, the Fort Worth ISD school board voted 5-4 against a plan to extend virtual learning for another four weeks and instead voted to start optional, in-person classes on Oct. 5. On Friday, the board announced it would re-evaluate the decision and revote on Tuesday. The trustees will vote on a motion that would extend the transition from online-only learning through Oct. 30, with in-person learning resuming by Nov. 2.

Some parents are frustrated by the revote.

Joy Blocker and 14 other FWISD parents started a petition Saturday for FWISD to move forward with an in-person learning option for students. In Blocker’s community in Benbrook, she said, many parents and teachers are ready to go back to school, and they think they should have the choice to do so. Blocker was surprised by how quickly the petition took off.

The petition had nearly 3,000 signatures and hundreds of comments as of Monday afternoon; the petition description said organizers plan to share the comments with the school board at Tuesday’s meeting.

Teachers and staff have their own plan for Tuesday’s meeting. The United Educators Association — which supports the continuation of online learning — planned to rally in front of the school board meeting in a “Support our Staff Rally.”

“Recent decisions by the school board and administration have compelled many to speak out regarding the district’s return to in-person plans and the additional work pushed on to the back of teachers,” said the press release for the event, which starts at 4:30 p.m., an hour before the meeting.

Fort Worth ISD president attends Dallas Cowboys game, sparks social media backlash

Fort Worth school board president Jacinto A. Ramos Jr. is under fire after he posted on Facebook a picture of himself attending Sunday’s Dallas Cowboys game with more than 20,000 fans in attendance, less than a week after he voted against in-person learning.

People on Facebook and Twitter asked why Ramos would be at a game with thousands after he deemed it unsafe for children to return to classrooms as scheduled on Oct. 5. Ramos did not immediately respond to an interview request.

One member of the private Facebook group Back in School - Back to Safety wrote that she doesn’t fault Ramos for going to the game. Instead, she pointed out that he made the choice to attend the game during the coronavirus pandemic while parents are just asking for the choice to send their kids to classrooms.

Tarrant County reports 300-plus COVID cases 3 straight days for first time in month

Tarrant County reported 333 coronavirus cases and no deaths on Monday.

It’s the second consecutive day county officials did not report a COVID death. Thirteen were reported on Saturday, the most since 13 were reported on Sept. 5.

Average daily cases, however, have increased recently. The past three days the county has reported 300 or more cases for the first time since mid-August. In the past seven days, the county has reported an average of 358 cases a day, up by 82 cases from the previous week.

Tarrant County has reported a total of 47,231 COVID-19 cases, including 633 deaths and an estimated 41,306 recoveries.

Dallas County reported 327 cases and two deaths on Monday. The county has confirmed 78,205 cases, including 997 deaths. The county does not report recoveries.