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Staggered in-person instruction begins Monday, September 21, for select groups of students.
With many COVID-19 indicators showing a flattening and other indicators decreasing, Aldine ISD anticipates that its local COVID-19 Decision Meter used to make decisions will change from Red to Orange in the coming weeks. Aldine will allow groups of strategically identified students — whose families selected the On-Campus Learning Option — to return in a staggered way starting Monday, September 21.
Superintendent LaTonya M. Goffney, a mother with a child in AISD, lauds the virtual work staff has been doing. Still, she is also looking forward to bringing back staff and students safely.
“Since the start of the pandemic, our community’s health and safety have been my top priority,” Goffney said. “Early on, we decided to approach 2020-2021 by opening ‘as fast as we can but as slow as we must.’ And we have done just that. We are in the third week of the school year, and I am thrilled to see all of the ways teaching and learning continue virtually for all of our students. Now we move forward. It will be wonderful to see and talk to staff and students in person once again.”
District leaders review local data by zip code, pour over reports from the county, and monitor the district’s reported cases. The team has had conversations with local health officials and stays abreast of activity and changes happening in surrounding school districts.
The Orange Phase signifies a severe and uncontrolled level of COVID-19 in our community as determined by local health officials, meaning that there is ongoing transmission of the virus. Individuals are advised to minimize contact with others and avoid medium or large gatherings. However, the district’s COVID-19 Decision Meter also indicates that up to 25% of students who requested to receive in-person instruction can return as targeted student groups.
AISD will implement a plan to bring back groups of strategically identified students in a staggered way while meeting the 25% limit. Goffney and her Executive Leadership Team are working with a cross-section of principals, leaders from teaching and learning, operations, and other departments to determine the staggered return schedule. The district’s COVID Task Force is charged with identifying the groups of students. The task force will target students that would benefit most from in-person instruction. At this time, AISD anticipates that no student would return to campus before Monday, September 21.
To prepare for students’ return, all AISD staff members will permanently return to their normal worksites on Monday, September 14. This approach will give staff time to acclimate to the district’s health and safety protocols ahead of students’ return. Protocols include required face coverings, social distancing, and frequent handwashing. Protocols also require all staff to complete a health screening each day before reporting to work. The short self-screening is a series of questions, including temperature checks. Each staff member will be sent detailed information on completing the survey and personalized login and password.
Staff members with personal circumstances who have been approved for accommodations by the Human Resources Department will continue to work virtually.
“I am not only your superintendent but also your neighbor, friend, and colleague. I share both your worries and your hopes for your students. We must remain careful and courageous as we continue to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 together while ensuring our students continue to succeed,” Goffney said.
Important Dates to Remember
- All AISD staff report to worksites on Monday, September 14
- Staggered in-person instruction for select groups of students begins Monday, September 21
As the situation with COVID continues to evolve, Aldine ISD will remain flexible. Should conditions change, Aldine is prepared to make necessary adjustments to protect staff and students’ health and well-being.