Breckenridge ISD releases 2020-2021 school-year plan

The Breckenridge Independent School District has released their plan of navigating students and the district through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plan is an 18-page layout of the district’s strategy for the 2020-2021 school year. Plans include the school year calendar for all campuses and the efforts underway regarding instructions, health, and safety measures for students and staff.

“Things are changing quite a bit,” Superintendent Allen said. “We have had meetings with the state and county to make sure that what we are thinking through as a school coincides with what the state/ county is doing. When we can work hand-and-hand, I believe that is the best way to approach this.”

According to the plan, all teachers and staff will be required to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms before coming onto campus each day. The self-screen will include teachers and staff taking their own temperature.

Teachers and staff must report to their principal if they have COVID-19 symptoms or are lab-confirmed with COVID-19. If so, staff must remain off campus until they meet the criteria for re-entry as noted in BISD released plan. Additionally, they must report to the school system if they have had close contact with an individual who is lab-confirmed with COVID-19.

BISD has also designed guidelines for the possibility of a student or staff member testing positive for the COVID-19 virus.

• If an individual who has been in a school is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school will 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).

• Schools will close off areas that are heavily used by the individual with the lab-confirmed case ( s t u - dent, teacher, or staff) until the non-porous surfaces in those areas can be disinfected unless more than 3 days have already passed since that person was on campus.

Regarding technology for students, BISD’s strategy includes the district securing devices for staff and students. Information concerning the use of district-owned devices and distribution will be provided to parents by the student’s home campus.

If a parent chooses remote learning, students will be expected to work for a minimum of FOUR hours per day to complete the required coursework. Students will need to check in with teachers every day. Failure to do so will result in consequences to the student in regards to attendance, credit, and/or eligibility.

The district will also provide counselors to assist in supporting students. According to the school district’s plan, counselors will be available to support students academically, socially, and emotionally and can provide mental health support or resources for families who may be struggling emotionally.

If a student needs to schedule a counseling session, contact the campus counselor.

BISD has also made changes to the drop process/ pickup for East Elementary students. All kindergarten through second-grade students will be dropped off in the front loop of the campus in the morning. Elm Street will be a one-way street to assist in the drop-off/ pick up procedure.