Centroplex News

The Copperas Cove Independent School District opened for the 2020-21 school year on schedule.

Wendy Sledd, the district’s director of communications, said the district has remained on its regular schedule despite the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

“CCISD was the only 6A district surrounding Fort Hood to open its classes on campus as scheduled on Aug. 18 having also taught summer school, extended special education classes, ESL classes and our Ranger reading camp all on campuses this summer,” Sledd told Centroplex News.

The school district, using the motto “Facts Not Fear,” has provided a back-to-school plan on its website and has communicated with parents for several months.

Traditional in-person teaching is offered, with a regular five-day-a-week schedule and regular hours. The district, in Copperas Cove in central Texas, had 7,988 students from prekindergarten to high school as of Tuesday.

Most students – about 70% – chose in-person instruction, Sledd said. The other 30% are either learning from home or in a hybrid setting of some time in school and some distance learning. Families are allowed to change every six weeks.

In the schools, safety precautions are in place, including having students remain primarily in one classroom while teachers travel between the rooms.

Students can also learn from home. This includes video-based teacher learning as well as individual learning programs. Internet access is required, although portable Wi-Fi hot spots are available. The district will provide a computer if needed.

It’s a stressful time, and the district is offering counseling for students on and off campus, including small group and individual sessions as well as access to mental health professionals.

Transportation also will continue to be provided at the normal capacity. The driver and passengers, who will sit in assigned seats to allow for contact tracing, are required to wear face coverings and sanitizer is available.

The district is complying with a directive from Gov. Greg Abbott for students to wear face coverings. Social distancing is practiced as possible, but the district cannot guarantee students are at least 6 feet apart at all times.

Frequent hand-washing is performed and hand sanitizer is readily available. Water-dispensing stations have been installed to allow students to fill water bottles.

Sledd said the district is working with teachers during this unprecedented time, but none have retired or departed because of the coronavirus. Some asked to work remotely because of personal or family health concerns.

“As we do each year, CCISD has had some of our staff retire after many years of serving children,” she said. “All CCISD staff members were offered positions to accommodate any health concerns while still meeting the needs of our students.”

The district has imposed several procedures if there are confirmed cases of COVID-19.

“If a campus is notified that a student or staff member has a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19, the student or staff member will be required to stay home until the return to school criteria is met,” the district website states. “District communication will be provided to all students on a campus of a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 on that campus. Campus administration and health services staff will contact families of students who came in close contact with a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 of additional steps that need to be taken.

“Students who have had close contact to a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 outside of school should stay home and contact the school nurse for instructions on meeting the return to school criteria.”

If a student or staff member displays symptoms at school, they will be evaluated and assessed by the school nurse.

“If COVID-19 symptoms are present staff members will be sent home, and [the] student will be isolated from other students and asked to put on a face covering until parent arrives,” the website notes. “[The] student will be escorted to vehicle upon parent arrival. Student must be picked up from the campus within one hour of notification,” according to the district. “A nurse will provide parent/staff with return-to-school criteria. Contact tracing for lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 will be conducted as advised by the Coryell County Health Department.”

All visitors have their temperature taken. If it is at above 100 or if they refuse to have their temperature taken, they are denied access. They are allowed to return in 10 minutes for a second test.

They cannot eat lunch with their child or bring food, and must remain in their vehicle when dropping or picking up a student.

Sledd said the response has been “very supportive,” which has been gratifying and surprising.

“It has been all positive,” she said. “It’s been a community effort, working with the city, with parents, the county and the state. We are all giving 300% to ensure our students have a quality education.”