DSISD planning the upcoming school year
The Dripping Springs Independent School District continues to work through what the new school year will look like come August 18. On Friday, July 17, the Texas Education Agency provided school districts with some additional options the district will adopt.
Previously, students could start the school year online for three weeks before transitioning to on-campus instruction. Per the change announced on Friday, students can now have a four week period of remote learning, something DSISD will move forward with.
The DSISD Board of Trustees held a special meeting (virtually) on July 16 to continue discussions around preparing for the fall. No action was taken, and board members heard comments from community members, read by Board President Carrie Kroll. Some of the questions raised by both community members and board members included extracurricular activities, sanitizing, and protecting staff. Kroll mentioned there has been “no word from UIL.”
In regard to sanitizing, Washburn told the board that the district is receiving a significant order of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the state and that will be provided to staff. “We’ll have it for our students as well,” he said. He also pointed out that the district has several electrostatic machines to sanitize efficiently and effectively. In March, he said the district ordered additional machines, and they’re awaiting that order to be delivered as the machines are back ordered.
The school board also met on Monday, July 20 for an agenda review meeting in preparation for the regularly scheduled board meeting on July 27. At the July 20th meeting, the school start date of August 18 was confirmed. Washburn also went over a draft COVID-19 response plan that addresses issues including technology and internet needs, child nutrition, special education and student support, transportation and more.
As part of the annual enrollment verification process, parents will be asked to indicate whether they prefer remote learning or in-person learning (following the first four weeks). “The selection will remain in effect for the first grading period (9 weeks),” Washburn said. “We also will survey our teachers and staff members to collect their input on return-to-school options in the fall.”
To view the district’s draft COVID-19 plan, you can find it attached to the July 20th meeting agenda at the district’s website: https://www.dsisdtx.us