COVID-19 Update March 12, 2020 11 a.m. CDT – Aldine ISD Will Remain Closed Following Spring Break Due to COVID-19

Teachers to Report on March 23; Students will Return on March 24

Dear Aldine ISD Community,

We are writing with updates regarding COVID-19. At this time, there are no confirmed or suspected cases among the Aldine ISD community. Our hope is that this remains true.

Out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety and well-being of our students and families, we have made the proactive decision to remain closed following Spring Break through Monday, March 23. Students should plan to return on Tuesday, March 24.

Monday, March 23 will be used for teacher professional development to plan for virtual learning should there be a need to close schools for an extended period of time. Teachers and staff will also be briefed on health protocols. All district buildings and facilities will be closed through March 22.

Students will have access to a free breakfast and a hot lunch via curbside service at select campuses beginning Monday, March 16 and ending Monday, March 23. Breakfast will be available on weekdays from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and lunch 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m..

By taking time during the week of Spring Break (March 9-13), as well as the following week (March 16-20), the district will be able to conduct a full assessment of risks for students and staff who traveled during their time off. All staff meetings for planning and training will be conducted virtually during the week of March 16-20.

As always, our primary focus is creating a safe and effective learning environment. We are monitoring the situation closely so we can make the best decisions for our school communities. We believe the most responsible course of action. This measure will help to ensure we are appropriately planning and preparing for all district services to operate in the most efficient and safest way possible when our students and staff return.

The district is also suspending all events and travel, effective immediately, through April 10. This includes all activities outside of school hours and buildings—field trips, extracurricular activities, concerts, and conferences. Aldine ISD will follow the guidelines of the University Interscholastic League for athletic and academic competitions.

Please know we are constantly evaluating the situation and will make informed decisions as needed based on these rapidly developing circumstances.

We understand the disappointment and implications of canceling school, events, field trips, and other travel; and we do not take these decisions lightly. We appreciate your ongoing flexibility during this time.

For detailed and up-to-date information, we will continue to keep the Aldine community informed through frequent updates on this webpage.

Students

• Aldine ISD schools remain closed following Spring Break through Monday, March 23.
• Students should plan to return to school Tuesday, March 24. 
• Students will have access to a curbside Grab and Go breakfast and a hot lunch at select campuses. 
• Aldine ISD has announced changes to its 2019-2020 attendance policy:
  • Perfect attendance guidelines for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year will be suspended for all students. Perfect attendance for the 2019-20 school year will be recognized from Aug. 20, 2019 through March 6, 2020.
  • Aldine ISD will suspend final exam exemption criteria related to attendance for Spring 2020 exams. All other campus criteria for exam exemptions will still apply.
• Aldine will accept a written excuse from parents for student absences that may be related to precautions taken around COVID-19.

Teachers and Staff

• Aldine ISD schools remain closed following Spring Break through Monday, March 23.
• Teachers and staff should plan to return Monday, March 23. 
• If you or a member of your household falls into one of the high-risk groups as identified by the CDC, such that you may be advised by a health authority not to come to work, please contact Human Resources.

Campus Visitation

• Beginning Monday, March 23 through Friday, April 10, Aldine ISD will restrict campus visitors (including parents 
• and volunteers) to only those essential for school operations. 
• All parents should limit their time on campus to student pick-up and drop-off only. 
• Parent meetings should be scheduled over the phone, whenever possible. If an in-person parent meeting must happen in-person, they will be subject to screening in the school clinic.

Facilities

• District buildings and facilities are closed through March 22. Staff should not enter buildings or facilities for any reason. 
• During Spring Break, custodial staff was able to complete additional cleaning and disinfecting of all commonly touched surfaces. 
• Transportation Services Department staff also complete additional cleaning and disinfecting of all buses.

School Gatherings 

• Once school resumes, all schools should operate as usual during the instructional day, including maintaining regular instruction, recess, and lunch.
• Discretionary gatherings outside of the regular instructional day should be cancelled through April 10. This may include, but is not limited to, extracurriculars, field trips, concerts, and parent events. 
• These policies will remain in effect until Friday, April 10, at which point we will reevaluate the evolving situation and issue further guidance.

Athletics and Academic Competition

• Aldine ISD will follow the guidelines of the University Interscholastic League.

Travel and Field Trips

• All district-or school-sponsored travel is suspended, effective immediately, through April 10. This includes all off-site field trips, regardless of the method of transportation. These policies will remain in effect until Friday, April 10, at which point we will reevaluate the evolving situation and issue further guidance.
• Aldine ISD is aware that many staff and students traveled during spring break, both domestically as well as internationally. Staff, students and their families who have traveled to or have been in contact with someone who has traveled to one of the countries on the CDC list (Mainland China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran) contact [email protected].

General Precautions

• The safety and well-being of our students and staff are a top priority in Aldine ISD. We ask our parents and guardians to partner with us to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff by continuing to monitor their child’s health. 
• Students and staff who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home. 
• They should not come to work or school with a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher using an oral thermometer. They should not have any signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g., cough suppressants). By doing this, the exposure of illness and the possibility of it spreading to students and staff are minimized.
• Aldine ISD is following the guidance of Harris County Health and Human Services. Both agencies are working closely with the CDC, local governments, and health care providers to prepare for and respond to the evolving COVID-19 situation. 
• Aldine ISD Health Services has issued guidance for school nurses to use in identifying and assessing the health status of students or staff who are experiencing flu-like symptoms.
• Custodial staff will continue with daily cleaning and disinfecting of all commonly touched surfaces in all district facilities. Transportation Services Department staff will enhance daily bus cleaning efforts.
• If both exposure and symptoms of fever or respiratory illness are present, nurses are instructed to inform the principal. The individual will be isolated. Staff will contact Aldine ISD Health Services for additional guidance.
• Where necessary, cleaning and disinfection will take place following the Department of Environmental Health Services Standard Operating Procedures and Harris County Health and Human Services recommendations.

Next Steps

• Aldine ISD will continue to follow the direction of local, state, and federal health authorities should it be necessary to close schools for additional days.
• If there is a positive case of COVID-19 in Aldine or a neighboring district, staff will follow all directives from local, state, and federal health officials.