COVID-19 INFORMATION CENTER
We are grateful and excited for the opportunity to return to face-to-face teaching and learning. Working together, we can all do our part to keep our loved ones safe and our schools open.
Providing high-quality instruction while protecting the health and safety of students and staff are priorities in Bandera Independent School District. While many of us hoped that school would begin as normal in August, the reality is that the COVID-19 pandemic may be with us for some time, and that we will need to be flexible in our approach to daily routines, and diligent in adopting health and safety protocols into our normal activities to keep our students and staff safe and our schools open.
Our COVID-19 Task Force has designed a comprehensive plan to significantly reduce the risks of the spread of COVID-19 by incorporating guidelines provided by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), and local health officials. The plan will be updated as further guidance is provided by those agencies.
PLAYGROUND REOPENING PROTOCOLS
- Campus administration will ensure constant staff supervision while students are utilizing playground equipment.
HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS
- A common message to convey healthy hygiene practices to our students
- Access to hand sanitizer and opportunities for frequent hand washing
- Increased cleaning of classrooms and common areas
- Changes to campus protocols to allow for social distancing
- Protocols for handling situations in which a teacher or student becomes ill.
- Each staff member will perform a self-screen prior to reporting for duty each day that will include daily temperature checks and a health questionnaire
- Staff will complete a form to log their screening results each day and their supervisor will maintain the daily screening records
- Any staff member displaying COVID-19 symptoms will be asked to immediately notify his/her supervisor and stay home
- Any staff member who begins to display symptoms during the school day will immediately report to the campus nurse for a health screening
- Parents are expected to screen their child daily for COVID-19 symptoms before sending him/her to school
- Parents should not send a child to a campus if the child has COVID-19 symptoms, is lab-confirmed with COVID-19, or has been exposed in close contact with someone with lab-confirmed COVID-19.
- Bus riders will be screened at the campus drop-off location as they enter the building
- Car riders will be screened in car line before exiting the vehicle
- All students will use hand sanitizer before entering the bus and the school building
- Any student displaying COVID-19 symptoms will be immediately screened by the campus nurse and parents will be contacted to take the student home
- Any student who begins to display symptoms during the school day will immediately report to the campus nurse for a health screening
- Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees
- Loss of taste and smell
- Cough
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Chills
- Shaking or exaggerated shivering
- Sore throat
- Significant muscle pain or ache
- Diarrhea
- Use hand sanitizer as they enter the campus and frequently throughout the day
- Increase airflow from the outdoors as weather permits and when feasible
- Procedures regarding masks:
- Students will wear masks when moving in the hallways or in common areas with larger numbers of students
- All students will wear masks, particularly when students are working in small groups and in close proximity with one another. When reasonable social distancing is possible and students are seated in their assigned seats, they may have the option of not wearing a mask at the direction of school personnel.
- Increase hygiene awareness and hand washing during the school day
- Limit sharing of school supplies (when feasible)
- Follow social distancing guidelines (when feasible)
- Teachers will be provided with PPE including surgical face masks, cloth face masks, face shields, sanitizing cleaning solution, etc.
- Some face masks will be available for students, but parents are encouraged to provide their student with a personal face mask that fits comfortably
- Safety and hygiene reminders will be posted throughout the campuses
- Teachers will lead classes in age-appropriate discussions regarding personal hygiene, frequent and proper hand washing techniques, and campus safety practices
- At age-appropriate grade levels, supervised hand washing or use of hand sanitizer will be conducted
- Use disinfectants that are proven to kill viruses and are certified safe for schools and public spaces
- Frequently wipe down high-traffic surfaces including handrails, door handles, counter tops and other horizontal surfaces over the course of the day
- Increase the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting restrooms and common areas throughout the day
- Use a disinfectant fogger to complement the regular cleaning process at the end of each day
- Make available hand sanitizer dispensers throughout campuses including at main entrances and in each classroom.
- BISD may make the decision to temporarily pivot from in-person instruction to remote instruction in an individual classroom based on a concentration of positive COVID-19 cases
- If more than one campus has a high concentration of active positive COVID-19 cases, the entire district may temporarily pivot from on-campus instruction to remote instruction
CAMPUS & CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
- Please allow more time for student drop off; parent drop-off lines may take longer due to the screening process
- Parents will not be permitted to walk students to class
- Follow the campus-specific guidelines for locations for student drop off
- Watch for on-campus signage for additional guidelines
- Parents should not exit their vehicles when picking up their child
- Follow the campus-specific guidelines for locations for student pick up
- Our families are our partners in learning; BISD welcomes parents, but campus visitation will be restricted while these guidelines are in effect
- For the safety of students and staff, all visitors with scheduled appointments (i.e. parent/teacher conferences) will be screened at the front office
- Parents will not be able to eat breakfast or lunch with their children
- Unless otherwise approved through the Central Office, there will be no guest speakers on campuses
- Campuses will use both virtual and modified in-person events to keep families engaged
- Pre-registration on a first come, first served basis may be required for on-campus events
- Health screening will be required prior to attending on-campus events; masks will be required
- Staff will make modifications to activities (when feasible) to increase distancing between students
- Safety measures specific to elective classes will be provided after school begins
- Staff on duty during recess will enhance monitoring of social distancing
- Students are expected to wear face coverings when entering and exiting facilities and practice areas, and when not actively exercising. BISD will continue to work with state and local officials to determine potential modifications.
- Campuses will limit school-wide/grade-level assemblies and large gatherings of students
INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL OPTIONS
Making a Commitment to an Instructional Model
We will ask each individual student to make a commitment to one of these instructional models (on-campus or remote) to start the year; however, students will have opportunities to transition between these models at the end of each six-week grading period. For example, if a student begins the school year in remote instruction but finds the model is not suitable, the student can request to transition to on-campus instruction at the end of the first six-week grading period. A student who begins the year on campus can choose to transition to remote instruction at the end of the first six-week grading period. Changing instructional models at the end of grading periods requires campuses and the district to make staffing adjustments, so please pay close attention to the change request deadlines listed
In Both Options:- All courses will be taught by highly qualified, certified Bandera ISD teachers .
- All students will participate in district/state assessments to document learning and growth.
- Students will have the option of changing from-or-to either option during the year at the end of the six-weeks grading period.
- This option is available to students in grades PK-12.
- The teacher will communicate daily learning expectations via Google Classroom. In addition, teachers will provide opportunities for direct as well as individual assistance.
- Daily progress will be verified based on the degree to which the student meets the expectations of the learning plan that the teacher presents.
- Teachers will provide feedback to students and use district grading guidelines on all assignments.
- Students will participate in district/state assessments to document learning and growth.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
- Bandera ISD ensures that students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities during on-campus or remote instruction
- Special Services personnel will make every effort to ensure all Bandera ISD special education and 504 students are provided the necessary supports to be successful in the event of a closure in which a campus or the district pivots to remote instruction only
- Other mitigations may occur in Functional Living Unit (FLU) and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) classrooms based on student needs
- Some students with significant physical health/cognitive needs may not be required to wear facial coverings (such situations should be discussed with the child’s teacher)
- School personnel will work closely with families of students who are immunocompromised regarding specific needs when returning to school
- ARD committee/504 meetings will continue to occur via conference call or virtual meeting.
- Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) meetings will be held virtually
- All testing for identification and reclassification will be conducted on campus, regardless of whether the student is in on-campus or remote instruction
- Bandera ISD ensures that GT students will receive appropriate instruction, regardless of the model of instruction they choose
- All testing for identification for Gifted and Talented services will be conducted on campus, regardless of whether the student is in on-campus or remote instruction
TRANSPORTATION & NUTRITION SERVICES
- All bus riders will use hand sanitizer as they enter the bus
- Students are required to sit in their assigned seat and use seatbelts, if available
- Students are expected to keep their masks or face coverings on at all times; if a student does not have a facemask available, a disposable mask will be provided
- Only students riding a special education bus will be screened as they board the bus; all other students will be screened on campus
- All nutrition services staff will wear protective equipment when preparing and serving food
- Students will maintain social distancing to greatest degree possible when in line for breakfast and/or lunch
- Student will be allowed to bring meals from home
- Cafeteria meals will be individually packaged
- All preparation and serving surfaces will be sanitized regularly
- Plans are in place to implement mobile ordering by students to further decrease time standing in line
- No self service will be allowed; the complete meal will be prepared by staff
- Students who do not wish to come to on-campus instruction will be able to pick up breakfast and/or lunch at designated drive-thru locations
- Drive-thru meals will be provided after in-school breakfast has been completed and after the last lunch period has ended
- Students do not have to be present at pick up, but a student ID or ID number is required.
- Drive-thru meals will only be available for enrolled Bandera ISD students during the regular school year

COVID-19 RETURN TO SCHOOL/WORK PROTOCOLS
RESOURCES
- TEA COVID-19 School Re-opening Public Health Guidance
- Governor's Strike Force to Open Texas
- Texas Department of State Health Service - COVID-19
- Guidance for School Re-Entry from the American Academy of Pediatrics
- Letter From AAP, AFT, NEA and AASA Advocating for Local Control for Reopening Schools
- CDC - What To Do if You Are Sick
- Public Health Guidance for Community-Related Exposure
- CDC - Return to School or Work: Discontinuation of Isolation
- US Dept of Labor COVID-19 and the Workplace
- OSHA Guidance on Returning to Work
- List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
- CDC - Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility
- Governor's Executive Order Requiring Face Masks in Public
- Considerations for Wearing Cloth Face Coverings
- Mask v. No Mask Dr. Richard Davis Providence Sacred Heart Med Center
- New England Journal of Medicine Oral fluid Droplets Visualization
- University of California San Francisco 6.26.20
- TAMU COVID-19 Guidance
- UT - "Protect Texas Together"
- Texas Tech Commitment
- TEA - Guidance for Reopening and Student Interaction 6.9.20
- American Association of Pediatrics: Guidance for School Re-entry
What qualifies as an appropriate mask?
- Cloth face mask (double-layered fabric is highly recommended)
- Neck Gaiter
- Single-use surgical mask
- N95 mask or N95 respirator
- Bandana
- Face shields (Face Shields are approved when they are worn in conjunction with face masks; however, a face shield will not take the place of a required face mask.
- Mesh face masks
- Military gas masks
There is no way that younger children will be able to keep a mask on during the day. How will teachers handle that?
Are athletes expected to wear a mask during workouts?
Are students going to be able to share supplies?
Will students be able to check out library books?
Will students have to wear masks during lunch?
How will I know if I’m making the right decision for my child?