Last review/updated: August 31, 2022
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PISD Return to in-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Updated 8-31-22

Regreso al plan de instrucción en persona y continuidad de servicios de PISD

This document is subject to change depending on the circumstances of COVID-19 and official health decisions.

The purpose of this document is to outline operational protocols and procedures that will allow for the continued safety of students and staff during the 2022-2023 school year while mitigating spread of COVID-19. This plan is a requirement of accepting and utilizing ESSER III funding provided by the federal government through the US Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This plan serves as a reminder of our prevention, mitigation and response procedures, and also provides an outline of continuity of services.

PISD will follow all local, state, and federal health guidelines including those issued by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).  

SAFE TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING PLAN

Provide Notice: Parental and Public Communications

• Broad general notices, such as this one, including any updates and/or amendments will be made available through our District website https://www.palaciosisd.org.
• Specific case information will be communicated personally to the family involved.
• General case information will be communicated as directed by health officials and in accordance with guidance from the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
• During the period in which ESSER IIII funds are available, PISD will review and revise the plan at least every six months. These revisions will take into account parent and community feedback, as well as updated guidance from the TEA.

Prevent: Practice to prevent the virus from entering the school

• Staff is requested to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms prior to reporting to work each day.  
• Parents/guardians are requested to screen their students for COVID-19 symptoms each day prior to sending their student to school.
• Teachers will monitor students and refer to the nurse if symptoms are present.
• Dropping off fast food will not be allowed for student lunches.
• Visitors to campuses will be limited. 

Mitigation: Practices to reduce potential spread in schools

• Classrooms and restrooms will be cleaned daily.
• Staff will have access to disinfectant wipes to sanitize working surfaces and shared objects after each use.
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer will be available at the main entry to the campus, in classrooms, in the cafeteria and in common areas throughout the campus.
• Proper hand washing will be encouraged and taught at elementary levels.
• Cafeteria tables will be cleaned between lunches.
• Supplies provided by students will not be shared.
• Music and PE equipment will be sanitized and wiped down after each use.
• PISD will disinfect facilities regularly in order to promote a healthy learning and work environment for students and staff.
• PISD contracted with GermBlast for the 2022-23 school year as an added layer of prevention and mitigation.

Response: Practices to respond to test-confirmed cases in schools

Required Actions if Individuals with Test-Confirmed Cases Have Been in a School

1. If an individual who has been in a school is test-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school must notify its local health department, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including confidentiality requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
2. Upon receipt of information that any teacher, staff member, student, or visitor at a school is test-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school must submit a report to the Texas Department of State Health Services via an online form. The report must be submitted each Monday for the prior seven days (Monday-Sunday).

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released guidance that is in accordance with Executive Order GA-43, which has the effect of state law under Section 418.012 of the Texas Government Code.

Updated in Response to TEA Public Health Guidance on August 19, 2021

As provided in this Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Rule, school systems must exclude students from attending school in person who are actively sick with COVID-19 or who have received a positive test result for COVID-19. Parents must ensure they do not send a child to school on campus if the child has COVID-19 symptoms or is test-confirmed with COVID-19, until the conditions for re-entry are met. See the DSHS rule for more details, including the conditions for ending the exclusion period and returning to school.

CONTINUITY OF SERVICES PLAN

Return to In-person Learning:

This guidance addresses:

•     On-campus instruction
•     Administrative activities by teachers, staff, or students that occur on school campuses
•     Non-UIL extracurricular sports and activities
•     Any other activities that teachers, staff, or students must complete

Health and Hygiene Practices: Masks
PISD will not require masks or face coverings, however individuals can wear a mask if they choose to do so, per GA-36, school systems cannot require students or staff to wear a mask. GA-36 addresses government-mandated face coverings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other authority to require protective equipment, including masks, in an employment setting is not necessarily affected by GA-36.

Additionally, as a reference for the CDC guidance on close contact  and practices recommended by the CDC, see here.

Addressing Academic Learning Loss:
See Summary of Finances

Instructional Supports
PISD maintains a system for tracking academic progress to inform instruction and provide regular feedback to students and families. Clear expectations exist for formative and summative assessments in the classroom as well as providing feedback to students. Diagnostic assessments will continue to be utilized across the grade levels in order to identify strengths, as well as, students in need of interventions or accelerated learning so that evidence based instruction can be purposefully designed for the students. During the 22-23 school year available resources will be utilized and additional support will be available to students, ensuring that all learners have access to high quality instruction and instructional resources.  

Administrators and Teachers engage in Data Meetings at all campuses as a process for consistent and constant monitoring of student progress. To assist in addressing specific learning loss, interventionists are available to support students in need of remediation and accelerated learning. These supports include additional learning times such as intervention class, tutoring, etc.

The district will continue to provide targeted instruction to close learning gaps due to COVID disruptions from the 20-21 school year through whole group and small group instruction using high quality instructional materials, interventions, etc.  The district will provide additional training to teachers as well as additional materials to support high-quality instruction.

Social and Emotional Supports
PISD counselors are available to support students academically, socially and emotionally. Counselors are prepared and ready to provide mental health support and resources for families who may be struggling.  In addition, PISD has partnered with Communities in Schools to provide additional staff to assist students and families.

PISD Review Log:

September 23, 2021 - DEIC reviewed plan, no changes were recommended or made at this time.
November 17, 2021 - DEIC reviewed plan, no changes were recommended or made at this time.
February 3, 2022 - DEIC reviewed plan, no changes were recommended or made at this time.
April 20, 2022 - DEIC reviewed plan, no changes were recommended or made at this time.
August 31, 2022 - DEIC reviewed plan, GermBlast services were added to plan