BISD to follow TEA COVID-19 guidelines for upcoming school year

Breckenridge ISD will no longer be required to notify parents if their child has been in contact with a COVID positive individual, according to updated public health guidance released by the Texas Education Agency Aug. 5.

The BISD school board met last Monday to discuss the new guidance from the agency. The updated guidelines from TEA differ greatly from what the agency released at the start of the 2020-2021 school year, removing many requirements such as pre-screenings and contact tracing.

“This looks quite a bit different than the health guidance last year looked…,” BISD Superintendent Bryan Allen said. “What is required of school districts has been decreased quite a bit.”

According to guidance released by TEA, if a student or member of the staff who has been present at school, is test-confirmed to have COVID-19, the district must notify the local health department and the Texas Department of State Health Services. The district is not required, however, to conduct contact tracing or to notify parents, students or other staff members who may have been in close contact with the positive individual.

“We are no longer required to notify the public, which will cut down on all the ParentSquare notifications that get sent out every time somebody tests positive,” Allen said. “The local authorities may continue to publish their reports, whether it’s daily or weekly… but we’re not required to do that anymore.”

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