Message From the Superintendent, Oct. 2, 2020

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Dear Aldine Community,

There is a saying, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”  I’m struck with how far we’ve come together in the six months since COVID-19 changed life as we know it.  This has been apparent as we reopened campuses for students after being apart for several months.

Now that we are continuing to move forward, I can say without a doubt that Aldine students, staff, and families are the most resilient people I know. Even amidst all of this uncertainty, I am excited for the year ahead because I know we won’t let anything keep us down. 

Our Focus this Year: Literacy
It is not a secret that I believe that the gateway to a better life is through reading. The power of books impacted my own life and led me to become one of the first people in my family to receive a college education. Since taking on the role of superintendent, I have prioritized improving reading outcomes, which I know will put our students on the best path to a successful future.

Our reading track record has not been great. According to our most recent data,  just 30% of our third-grade students were reading at or above grade level. Many of those students struggled with comprehending complex or challenging text and would probably tell you that reading was a chore and not something they enjoyed.

I’m excited to share that we have launched a new literacy initiative this year, and it has already been met with hope and excitement from staff and students. We set out to study the research and best practices in literacy instruction nearly two years ago. We developed a literacy vision and framework that will guide our decisions at every step of the way and ensure we are always moving forward with literacy instruction that best serves our students in Aldine. From district-level literacy coaches to new and improved curriculums across all grade levels, we are ready to change the narrative — quite literally — for our students. Our plan is not just about new books. Instead, we are approaching teaching in a completely new way. Through this plan, we are not only focused on increasing academic achievement. We are also finding more ways to get students excited about building their knowledge of the world through books, magazines, poetry, prose, and other text. 

You will continue to hear more about our focus on literacy throughout the year.

As we continue to provide learning opportunities both virtually and on campuses, please read on below for a few important reminders.

Next Steps on Reopening Plans for Students
We continue to welcome students back as we announced in the news release we shared last month. Now that our Transition 1 and Transition 2 students have successfully returned, we look forward to Transition Group 3 students rejoining campuses on Monday. 

October 5 — Transition Group 3 Returns
Students in Transition Group 3 include:

• 4th Grade
• 5th Grade
• 8th Grade
• 12th Grade  (Hybrid Model: Last name A-L on Monday/Tues; Last name M-Z on Wed-Thurs; ALL Students — online on Fridays)

We will also continue to provide virtual learning for those who have opted into this learning model. 

As a reminder, our protocols require all students and staff to complete a health pre-screening survey each day before physically reporting to school and work. And our buildings and classrooms look different. Signage marks new ways to walk down our hallways, and many classrooms have fewer desks that are spaced out. Even our buses and gymnasiums reflect new health guidelines. Face coverings are required by all, and frequent hand washing and sanitizing are recommended. 

Free Meals for All Aldine ISD Students and Children 18 and Under
Starting October 1, the Aldine ISD Child Nutrition Services Department began to offer free meals through an extended waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). Students learning on campus and at home can receive breakfast and lunch at no cost for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. 

All students are eligible for one breakfast and one lunch per day per federal guidance. If a student eats breakfast and lunch on campus, the student is ineligible to pick up meal bundles at the curbside meal site. Free Meal Bundles are available to students participating in virtual learning and children 18 and under not currently enrolled in Aldine ISD. A full list of curbside meal sites can be found on our district website. 

UIL Activities
Our athletics and performing arts programs are eager to begin their seasons officially. The football season kicks off next Thursday evening, and volleyball team games have been underway for two weeks. 

COVID-19 Monitoring by Campus
As a parent and as the district leader, I share with all of you the concern about COVID-19’s spread, especially as more of our students return to on-campus learning. We want to ensure that our community is safe and informed. We developed a dashboard that gives our community immediate access to the number of active lab-confirmed cases of students and staff who have been in our schools and buildings. This data is updated daily, and you can access the dashboard on our website at any time. Our protocols follow the Texas Education Agency’s reporting structure, which communicates cases Monday through Saturday and considers a case active for 10 days.

As a reminder, in the event of a positive COVID-19 case, each campus/department will follow these Three Cs:

• Contain (student/staff will wait for departure in the wellness room on each campus)
• Contact  (all those who have been in immediate contact with the individual are notified)
• Communicate (share information about confirmed cases with our community)

Decision Meter Update
We have been balancing TEA, CDC, state, and local guidance related to reopening our schools and our nearly 67,000 students’ needs. It has been a continuous learning process designed around what works best for our families and students. We have moved slowly and made changes along the way.

An important change to note is that we are not solely relying on the district’s decision meter to determine our actions.  Each week we look at a variety of metrics to maintain the safety of our staff and students. These include:

• Monitoring local conditions and seeking feedback from stakeholders and health professionals.
• Reviewing the most updated CDC, TEA, UIL, and county guidelines.
• Enforcing health and safety guidelines — social distance requirements such as requiring staff and students to stay apart,  requiring universal masking, and encouraging frequent hand washing.

As we head into a new phase of our Return to Learn plan, I am convinced that our amazing team of educators, students, and families are prepared to rise to the challenge. It continues to be a source of pride and inspiration to see how each member of our community has persevered through this period of uncertainty. In doing so, we are modeling to our students, and many others, the power of collaboration and shared commitment. Keep up the great work and stay safe.

Team Aldine, this fall is filled with many unknowns, but what I know to be true is that our community’s power, hard work, and commitment will help us overcome whatever is in our path. I’m so proud of our students for their resilience and the joy they bring to learning. 
 
With Aldine Pride,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent