March 3  |  3:30 p.m.

After careful and thoughtful consideration, Little Elm ISD has decided to keep face-coverings in place for the remainder of the school year. This comes after the Governor’s order this week to lift the mask order effective Wednesday, March 10.

“Our main focus throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has always been to keep the health and safety of the students, staff, and families as our number one priority,” said Daniel Gallagher, superintendent of schools for Little Elm ISD. “We will not waiver from that promise.” 

Gallagher said with approximately two months left in the school year, we will continue with our current COVID-19 protocols to ensure we safely keep as many students and staff in our buildings for the remainder of the year.

“We strongly believe our COVID-19 protocols have helped us slow down the spread of the virus in our schools and reduce the number of students and staff we have had to quarantine,” said Gallagher. 

As you know, the pandemic has been fluid and ever changing, and we will update you if changes are made as a result of guidance by the Texas Education Agency and local and state health experts.

We will continue our COVID protocols including the following:

• face coverings

• shields

• social distancing

• hand sanitizing stations

• frequent hand washing 

• frequent virus misting of high-use areas

• contact tracing

• reporting of active COVID cases

• quarantine protocol

• limit outside visitors to the campuses

• daily screening of employees

• screening of campus visitors

---

Después de una consideración minuciosa y reflexiva, el Distrito Escolar de Little Elm ha decidido conservar el uso de mascarillas durante el resto del presente año escolar. Esto se da con motivo de la emisión del gobernador, esta semana, de cancelar la orden del uso de mascarillas, siendo efectivo a partir del miércoles 10 de marzo.

“Nuestro principal interés a lo largo de la pandemia del COVID-19 ha sido siempre conservar la salud y la seguridad de alumnos, personal y familias, como nuestra máxima prioridad”, dijo Daniel Gallagher, director general de las escuelas del Distrito Escolar de Little Elm. “No renunciaremos a nuestra promesa.” 

Gallagher aseguró que con casi dos meses restantes del año escolar, continuaremos aplicando nuestros protocolos actuales frente al COVID-19 para garantizar que así conservemos asegurados tanto a alumnos como empleados dentro de nuestras instalaciones por lo que resta del año escolar.

“Creemos firmemente que nuestros protocolos frente al COVID-19 nos han sido útiles en la disminución de la propagación del virus dentro de nuestras escuelas y en la reducción del número de estudiantes y empleados que hemos tenido que poner en cuarentena”, dijo Gallagher. 

Como ustedes deben saberlo, la pandemia ha seguido fluyendo y cambiando, así que les mantendremos al día si hubieran cambios en función de los lineamientos de la Agencia de Educación de Texas y de los expertos de salud locales y estatales.

Continuaremos aplicando nuestros protocolos respecto al COVID, incluyendo lo siguiente:

• mascarillas

• pantallas

• distanciamiento social 

• estaciones para desinfección de manos

• lavado frecuente de manos

• rocío anti virus frecuente en las áreas más usadas

• seguimiento del contacto con personas infectadas

• reporte de casos activos de COVID

• protocolo para estar en cuarentena 

• limitación de visitas externas en las escuelas

• evaluación diaria de síntomas en empleados

• evaluación de síntomas en visitantes  

Little Elm ISD is aware of the Governor's order to remove the mask mandate starting next Wednesday, March 10. The District will release additional information soon.

July 28 - Start of School to Remain August 25 as Planned

Dear Lobo FamiLE;

Just before noon today, the Texas Attorney General issued legal guidance on the opening of schools for the upcoming school year during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance states, “While playing an important role in protecting the health of school children and employees, local health authorities may not issue sweeping orders closing schools for the sole purpose of preventing future COVID-19 infections.” The guidance further states, “School officials, both public and private, are the appropriate ones to decide whether, when, and how to open school.” 

With this new information, Little Elm ISD will continue its plan to offer both In-School and At-Home Learning options for students and that the start of school will remain Tuesday, August 25. 

Today, it was decided the Board of Trustees will refer to District leaders to make the decision and will not meet for a Special called meeting on Thursday, July 29 to take a vote.   

Thank you for your patience with us as we have worked to navigate the ever-shifting requirements and build a plan that supports the continued education and well-being of our students, with added health safety measures that protect our employees as you work to serve children. 

Please visit our SafeLobo Back to School page to stay updated on any additional information.  

Sincerely,  
Daniel Gallagher, Ed.S. 
Superintendent 

---

Querido Lobo FamiLE;

Justo antes del mediodía de hoy, el Procurador General de Texas emitió orientación legal sobre la apertura de escuelas para el próximo año escolar durante la actual pandemia de COVID-19. La guía dice: "Si bien juegan un papel importante en la protección de la salud de los niños y empleados escolares, las autoridades locales de salud no pueden emitir órdenes radicales para cerrar las escuelas con el único propósito de prevenir futuras infecciones por COVID-19". La guía afirma además: "Los funcionarios escolares, tanto públicos como privados, son los apropiados para decidir si, cuándo y cómo abrir la escuela".

Con esta nueva información, Little Elm ISD continuará su plan para ofrecer opciones de aprendizaje tanto en la escuela como en el hogar para los estudiantes y que el inicio de clases continuará el martes 25 de agosto.

Hoy, se decidió que la Junta de Síndicos se referirá a los líderes del Distrito para tomar la decisión y no se reunirá para una reunión especial convocada el jueves 29 de julio para votar.

Gracias por su paciencia con nosotros, ya que hemos trabajado para cumplir con los requisitos siempre cambiantes y crear un plan que respalde la educación y el bienestar continuos de nuestros estudiantes, con medidas de seguridad de salud adicionales que protegen a nuestros empleados mientras trabaja para servir a los niños. .

Visite nuestra página SafeLobo Back to School para mantenerse actualizado sobre cualquier información adicional.

Sinceramente,

Daniel Gallagher, Ed.S.
Superintendente

July 27 - Denton County school districts review DCPH recommendation to begin with virtual learning 

Following a recommendation from Denton County health officials for county school districts to begin the school year virtually until Tuesday, Sept. 8, The Little Elm ISD Board of Trustees will have a special called meeting on Thursday, July 30 to review the matter and determine the best path forward for students and staff. 

The Denton County Public Health Department issued the recommendation on Monday, July 30, and Denton County school districts are now evaluating its effects on instructional and extracurricular programs.

Leaders from the following Denton County school districts are collaborating to share how the recommendation affects their respective schools: Argyle ISD, Aubrey ISD, Carrollton- Farmers Branch ISD, Denton ISD, Krum ISD, Lake Dallas ISD, Lewisville ISD, Little Elm ISD, North Texas Collegiate Academy (All Campuses), Pilot Point ISD, Ponder ISD, Westlake Academy and Sanger ISD.

Each school district will make its own decision separately based on the best interests of its community, and those decisions will be communicated directly to families by district leaders.

Denton County health officials recommended that school officials keep campuses closed through Monday, Sept. 7 and begin face-to-face instruction no sooner than Tuesday, Sept. 8. The county recommends districts to begin their school years virtually until that date.

Per Texas Education Agency guidelines, families can switch between two learning options – face-to-face or virtual – after the conclusion of each grading period.

Dr. Matt Richardson, director of the Denton County Public Health Department, said COVID-19 cases have continued to increase in the county and children can serve as transmission points for the virus. For the week of July 12, 15.5 percent of Denton County residents who were tested for COVID-19 received positive results, which is above the state average and the highest positivity rate for Denton County to date.

 “DCPH remains a committed, available partner in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and is equally committed to assisting ISDs in returning to in-person learning,” the Denton County Public Health Department stated in a recent news release. “Our collective hope is to return to traditional education as soon as possible, with the knowledge that the global pandemic response will ultimately determine how ‘normalcy’ will return to our schools.”

Denton County school districts will continue to rely on the data and advice of local health experts going forward. For continued updates from the county, visit www.dentoncounty.gov/covid19. School districts will continue to communicate directly with families in the event of any updates.

---

Los distritos escolares del condado de Denton revisan la recomendación de DCPH para comenzar con el aprendizaje virtual

Siguiendo una recomendación de los funcionarios de salud del condado de Denton para que los distritos escolares del condado comiencen el año escolar prácticamente hasta el martes 8 de septiembre, Little Elm ISD está revisando el asunto y determinando el mejor camino a seguir para los estudiantes y el personal.

El Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Denton emitió la recomendación el lunes 27 de julio, y los distritos escolares del Condado de Denton ahora están evaluando sus efectos en los programas educativos y extracurriculares.

Los líderes de los siguientes distritos escolares del condado de Denton están colaborando para compartir cómo la recomendación afecta a sus escuelas locales: Argyle ISD, Aubrey ISD, Carrollton- Farmers Branch ISD, Denton ISD, Krum ISD, Lake Dallas ISD, Lewisville ISD, Little Elm ISD, North Texas Collegiate Academy (Todos los campus), Pilot Point ISD, Ponder ISD, Westlake Academy y Sanger ISD.

Cada distrito escolar tomará su propia decisión por separado en función de los mejores intereses de su comunidad, y esas decisiones serán comunicadas directamente a las familias por los líderes del distrito.

Los funcionarios de salud del condado de Denton recomendaron que los funcionarios escolares mantengan los planteles cerrados hasta el lunes 7 de septiembre y comiencen la instrucción presencial no antes del martes 8 de septiembre. El condado recomienda que los distritos comiencen sus años escolares prácticamente hasta esa fecha.

Según las pautas de la Agencia de Educación de Texas, las familias pueden cambiar entre dos opciones de aprendizaje, presenciales o virtuales, después de la conclusión de cada período de calificaciones.

El Dr. Matt Richardson, director del Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Denton, dijo que los casos de COVID-19 han seguido aumentando en el condado y que los niños pueden servir como puntos de transmisión del virus. Para la semana del 12 de julio, el 15.5 por ciento de los residentes del condado de Denton que fueron examinados para COVID-19 recibieron resultados positivos, que está por encima del promedio estatal y la tasa de positividad más alta para el condado de Denton hasta la fecha.

“DCPH sigue siendo un socio comprometido y disponible para prevenir la propagación de COVID-19 y está igualmente comprometido a ayudar a los ISD a regresar al aprendizaje en persona ”, declaró el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Denton en un comunicado de prensa reciente. "Nuestra esperanza colectiva es regresar a la educación tradicional lo antes posible, con el conocimiento de que la respuesta global a la pandemia determinará en última instancia cómo la" normalidad "volverá a nuestras escuelas.”

Los distritos escolares del condado de Denton continuarán confiando en los datos y consejos de expertos locales en salud en el futuro. Para actualizaciones continuas del condado, visite www.dentoncounty.gov/covid19.

 Los distritos escolares continuarán comunicándose directamente con las familias en caso de cualquier actualización.

July 22 - At-Home Learning

Dear Lobo FamiLE;

We are developing the At-Home Learning environment and want to share what it will look like for our students. School times will follow the designated District times set forth for all of our campuses:

• Elementary student schedule: 8:05 a.m. - 3:40 p.m.
• Middle school student schedule: 8:55 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• High school student schedule: 7:20 a.m. - 2:55 p.m.

It is our goal to have specific teachers (our teachers) dedicated as your child’s online teacher which will help create a focus for teacher-led instruction, much different from the At-Home Learning we provided in the spring. Teachers will use the District curriculum that will parallel In-School Learning making the transition from At-Home to In-School much easier on the student.

Students will follow their designated class schedule. View sample schedules on the Back to School 2020 Webpage in the At-Home Learning section. Students will receive their exact schedule prior to the first day of school.  

For elementary students:  

• Daily schedules for core-content subjects (English, Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies) with built-in teacher-led instruction, small group activities, independent work, individualized support for various student needs, lunch, recess
• Specials classes (art, music, PE) will be asynchronous learning three days a week
• End of the day opportunities to work with teachers during designated independent practice homework time
• Attendance will be based on daily participation in At-Home Learning 
• Parents will facilitate student learning

For secondary students:  

• Follow class schedule that will be provided to students on the first day of school
• Schedules will include teacher-led instruction, group activities, individual support for various student needs, lunch
• Specialized classes such as sports, CTE, and extracurricular classes will be in-person during designated class time (transportation is the responsibility of the student/parent)
• Some classes will be led through asynchronous learning and activities
• Attendance will be based on daily participation in At-Home Learning
• Parents will facilitate student learning

Teachers will provide grades based on the District’s Grading Guidelines. Families who choose to change their selection from At-Home to In-School learning will need to do so at the beginning of the nine-week grading period by contacting your campus principal. In the event our District moves to remote learning for all students due to mandatory closures, At-Home learners will continue using their online schedule with the exception of attending in-person extracurricular classes.

---

Estimada  FamiLE Lobo,

Estamos elaborando el medio ambiente adecuado para el Aprendizaje en Casa y quisiéramos compartir con ustedes cómo será esto para nuestros alumnos. Los horarios de clase se apegarán a los horarios asignados por el distrito para todas nuestras escuelas:

• Horario para alumnos de primaria: 8:05 a.m. - 3:40 p.m.
• Horario para alumnos de secundaria: 8:55 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Horario para alumnos de preparatoria: 7:20 a.m. - 2:55 p.m.

Nuestro objetivo es tener maestros específicos (nuestros maestros) que estén asignados como los maestros en línea para sus hijos, lo cual servirá para crear énfasis en la enseñanza conducida por el maestro, lo cual es muy diferente al  Aprendizaje en Casa que brindamos en la primavera. Los maestros estarán utilizando planes de estudio que sean paralelos a los del Aprendizaje en la Escuela, haciendo de esta manera que la transición de estar en casa hacia estar en la escuela sea mucho más sencilla para los alumnos.

Cada alumno cumplirá con el horario de clases que se le haya asignado. Puede ver algunos ejemplos de horarios en la página Back to School 2020 (de regreso a clases en 2020) en la sección de Aprendizaje en Casa. Los alumnos recibirán su horario exacto antes del primer día de clases.  

Para alumnos de primaria:  

• Horario diario fijo para materias básicas (Inglés, Lectura, Matemáticas, Ciencia, Ciencias Sociales) que serán con  enseñanza conducida por el maestro, actividades en grupos pequeños, trabajo independiente, apoyo personalizado en las diversas necesidades de los alumnos, almuerzo, recreo/descanso
• Las clases especiales (arte, música, Educación Física) serán no sincronizadas tres veces por semana
• Oportunidad, al final del día, de trabajar con el maestro(a) a la hora asignada como tiempo independiente para practicar y hacer tarea
• La asistencia estará basada en la participación diaria del Aprendizaje en Casa
• Los padres facilitarán el aprendizaje en el alumno

Para alumnos de secundaria:  

• Seguirán el horario que se les dé el primer día de clases
• Los horarios incluirán enseñanza conducida por el maestro, actividades en grupo, apoyo individual a diversas necesidades de los alumnos, almuerzo
• Las clases especiales tales como deportes, CTE y actividades extracurriculares serán en persona a la hora que esté asignada cada clase (el transporte será responsabilidad del alumno/padres)
• Algunas clases se llevarán a cabo por medio de aprendizaje y actividades no sincronizadas (individuales)
• La asistencia estará basada en la participación diaria del Aprendizaje en Casa
• Los padres facilitarán el aprendizaje en el alumno

Los maestros asignarán las calificaciones basándose en los Lineamientos de Calificación del Distrito. Las familias que elijan cambiar su elección de Aprendizaje en Casa al de Aprendizaje en la Escuela, tendrán que hacerlo al principio de los períodos de calificación de nueve semanas, poniéndose en contacto con el director de la escuela. En el caso que el distrito tenga que cambiar a todos los alumnos al aprendizaje a distancia debido a algún cierre obligatorio, los alumnos En Casa  continuarán usando el horario en línea teniendo la expectativa de poder asistir a clases extracurriculares en persona.

July 9 - Calendar Change

Little Elm ISD students will be returning to school later than originally planned. The new start date is Tuesday, August 25. The previous start date was Wednesday, August 12.

In a special called Board of Trustees meeting Thursday, the school board unanimously approved a new academic calendar for the 2020-2021 school year to include the new start date, with adjusted student holidays throughout the school year. The new calendar aligns with the Texas Education Agency’s 75,600 instructional minutes for students required under House Bill 2610, while still satisfying the contractual days for teachers.

All major holidays and breaks remain the same in the months of November, December, and March.

The one agenda item sparked a lengthy discussion about the possibility of pushing up the start date to earlier in August, teachers’ workload, and concerns feedback from the community, and particularly teachers, were not considered when changing the calendar.

Daniel Gallagher, Little Elm ISD superintendent, explained to board members that this is not the typical calendar process the District goes through. "Because this is a fluid situation and we are in the middle of a pandemic, the change to the calendar is mission-critical," said Gallagher. "By allowing us to start nine days later, it will give us more time with our highly-qualified teachers and staff who have been off contract since the release of school in late May. We want all of our staff to be successful and 100% ready when our students return. These extra days will allow us to do that."

See the new 2020-2021 Little Elm ISD Calendar

July 6, 2020 - Return to School Plans

If there was ever a time a crystal ball was needed, this would be the time. It is very difficult to plan for something when you don't know what the future holds. Preparing for the return to school this summer feels something like this. I am proud of the work of the Little Elm ISD educators who have spent weeks designing a school learning environment that will keep everyone healthy and safe for a fall return, either in-school or at-home learning.

We serve more than 8,000 students and nearly 1,000 staff, which represents thousands of questions and concerns for fall return plans. We know through a recent ThoughtExchange in early June, a majority of our families plan to send their child to in-school learning in the fall. But there is one, very complicated stipulation; it has to be the safest place for all students and staff. Monday, July 6, we opened Returning Student Registration and included a choice for our families to consider:

• In-School Learning
• At-Home Learning

We have asked for a choice commitment by July 17 for us to know how many students we will be serving either through In-School or At-Home Learning. This will allow us to properly staff and train in order to provide the best possible learning experience.

Keeping it Normal as Best We Can

Recess, Lunch, and Passing Periods

We have received many questions and concerns about how the District is going to handle these three important social, emotional, and physical activities inside our school. The plan is to have it as traditional as we possibly can. In this uncertain world, the bottom line is our parents want kids to be kids. However, as we have learned recently by the latest executive order requiring people to wear face coverings in public places where social distancing is not feasible, our plans are subject to change. District and campus leadership teams plan to meet the week of July 13 to determine the details at each campus after they return to their contracted days of service. Once those campus plans are developed, we will share with our staff and families. Thank you for your patience as we spend more time reviewing the District protocols we have in place on this very important topic.

Face Coverings

The latest executive order from the Governor is that every person, where social distancing is not feasible, wear a face covering. The District has plans to purchase enough masks for every student and every staff member. Understand, we know it will be tough to get 8,000+ students to wear a face covering for 6-7 hours a day while at school. When we meet with our campus principals, we will discuss how this will be implemented and the details of that plan will be shared.

Health Checks, Water Bottles, and Hand Sanitizer

We will need your help keeping our students healthy and safe when they return in the fall. Your cooperation and support is critical to prevent the potential spread of any virus.

Daily Health Screenings

We are asking parents or guardians to help us by screening their child before sending them to school each day. If a child is sick, he/she needs to stay at home.  We have created a flow chart to help families understand what they need to do in the event their child is sick. We will be printing this helpful information and giving them to all of our families.

Water Bottles

Little Elm ISD will install water bottle filler stations at every campus to prevent the potential spread of viruses from students using water fountains. We are asking families to supply students with a water bottle they can use each day at school.

Hand Sanitizer

Little Elm ISD will provide every campus hand sanitizer. We are also asking students to bring a bottle as part of their school supplies. This will ensure we have a continuous supply of hand sanitizer in each classroom.

The Waiting Game

The speed of change during the COVID-19 crisis has taken school leaders on a wild goose chase searching for the best possible solutions to a very complex and complicated issue. Our state and local officials, Texas Education Agency and Denton County Health Department, are faced with very big decisions that seem to change on a dime. We are meeting twice a week with the TEA discussing these changes and we as leaders review and adapt as necessary as we continue to prepare for a fall launch of the school year. Thank you for your patience as we wait for those officials to rule on health and safety standards as well as curriculum standards.

SAFELobo Website: Back to School Information

We have updated the SAFELobo website we used in the spring that provided all of our families the information needed during the school closure. This page will continue to serve as your source of back-to-school information as it relates to COVID-19. When state and county officials make final decisions, our responses will reflect those changes. It is important to remember that a disclaimer like this will be a part of our communication for now and the foreseeable future:

Due to the ever-changing nature of COVID-19, the details on this page are subject to change as directives are provided by governing authorities and/or health officials or as environmental conditions change.

The plans we are organizing today may require revisions if something changes. Rest assured, Little Elm ISD administrators and three school board members who serve on our COVID-19 committee are frequently reviewing, researching, and discussing best possible courses of action as this crisis progresses.

As always, we appreciate your feedback, grace, and patience as we finalize our plans with a focus on safety for all.

Sincerely,
Daniel Gallagher, Superintendent

July 6, 2020 - Proposed Calendar Change

Dear Lobo FamiLE;

This Thursday, the Little Elm ISD administration team will be presenting a proposed new calendar to the school board during a Special School Board Meeting. We are asking to delay the start of school from Wednesday, August 12 to Tuesday, August 25. Major holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Winter Break, and Spring Break will remain the same.

The change in the start date gives us more time to prepare as we face the ever-changing challenges related to COVID-19 and its impact state-wide.  

• New Start date: Tuesday, August 25
• End of School: Thursday, May 20 (before Memorial Day)
• Major Holidays remain the same (Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break)

Upon Board approval we will post the calendar on our website, social media sites, and GoLobo News Flash.

CALENDAR COMPARISON

---

Estimada Familia Lobo:

Este Jueves, el equipo de administración de Little Elm ISD presentará una propuesta de nuevo calendario ante el Consejo durante una Reunión Especial del Consejo Escolar. Estamos solicitando que se retrase el comienzo del año escolar del miércoles 12 de agosto al martes 25 de agosto. Los Días Festivos tales como; Acción de Gracias, Vacaciones de Invierno y Vacaciones de Primavera permanecerán en las mismas fechas.

El cambio en la fecha de inicio del año escolar nos permite prepararnos a medida que enfrentamos los desafíos siempre cambiantes relacionados con COVID-19 y su impacto en todo el estado.

• Nueva Fecha de Inicio del Ciclo Escolar: Martes 25 de agosto
• Fin del Ciclo Escolar: Jueves 20 de mayo (Memorial Day- Día de los Caídos en Combate)
• Los Días Festivos permanecen en las mismas fechas ( Acción de Gracias, Vacaciones de Invierno y Vacaciones de Primavera)

Publicaremos el calendario en nuestra página de Internet, Redes Sociales y la Gaceta Informativa GoLobo una vez que el Consejo Escolar lo apruebe. 

July 1, 2020 - Returning Student Registration

Dear Lobo FamiLE;

Hope you all are enjoying your summer break! We are sending this communication to let you know returning student registration begins Monday, July 6. 

During registration, parents can choose In-School Learning or At-Home Learning. The information we collect will help us meet the needs of each student. The deadline to make a commitment for returning students is Friday, July 17.

In order to make an informed decision, please visit our website and read through our frequently asked questions.

---

Estimada Familia Lobo;

¡Esperamos estén disfrutando de las vacaciones de verano! Les enviamos este comunicado para informarles que las inscripciones para estudiantes que regresan a clases comienza el lunes 6 de julio.

Durante las inscripciones los padres pueden elgir Aprendizaje en la Escuela o Aprendizaje en el Hogar. La información que recopilemos nos ayudará a satisfacer las necesidades de cada estudiante.  La fecha límite para hacer el compromiso es el viernes 17 de julio.

Para que usted pueda tomar una decisión informada, por favor, visite nuestra página de internet y lea cuidadosamente nuestra sección de preguntas frecuentes.

June 15, 2020

While uncertainty surrounds every aspect of our daily lives due to COVID-19, Little Elm ISD administrators are weighing options as it relates to the 2020-2021 school year. Superintendent Daniel Gallagher and his leadership team are forging plans for the fall school semester. “Even though we don’t know exactly what the future might hold, we have discussed different options best suited to serve the needs of our kids,” Gallagher said.

During Monday’s school board meeting, Dr. Cyndy Mika, superintendent for Curriculum and Learning Services, presented the plan for the 2020-2021 school year addressing in-school learning, online learning, and sporadic short-term closures. It included supporting evidence from the community through a recent ThoughtExchange launched by the District on June 4. The plan mirrors what the community is thinking, including the thoughtful insight from the District’s COVID-19 Task Force. "We spent an hour and a half on just one of the topics," said board member LeAnna Harding who also serves on the District’s COVID-19 committee. "This presentation is a great summary of the amount of detail we covered in these meetings. As a parent of former students who attended, I appreciate the hard work that was put into this plan."

Gallagher recently established a task force consisting of employees from numerous District departments. They have been meeting weekly to outline best practices in a “what if” scenario with the health and safety of students and staff at the core of every decision. “Our goal is to return to a normal schedule in the fall. However, due to the nature of this pandemic and it’s fluidity, it is going to be critical we think out every possible scenario and our response to it,” said Gallagher. 

The District is planning for students and teachers to return "100% In-School Learning" by establishing enhanced practices to ensure safe and healthy learning environments. In the event schools are again ordered to close, the District is prepared to launch a revamped version of the spring’s At-Home Learning. This means more teacher-led lessons to students at home through the use of technology. 

“I do understand we have families who may want their children to remain at home and receive their education online. We are working on enhancing our online program for those families as a choice option. Our goal is to meet the educational needs of our students whether they are attending classes in our buildings or through our online program” said Gallagher.

District officials continue to partner with governing bodies such as the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the University Interscholastic League (UIL), as well as public health officials. In many cases, these agencies guide the work of the District and provide a framework for decisions. District officials will communicate with the community as more information and plans become finalized throughout the summer.