- Greenville Independent School District
- Learning 2020-21
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Learning 2020-21
Greenville ISD is committed to making online learning as smooth as possible. That's why we've designed the ROAR (Remote Online Access Resources) dashboard for parents and students.
FAQ
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How long is the quarantine period when someone at home tests positive for COVID-19?
GISD employees and students are required to quarantine for two segments of time when someone at home tests positive. The first quarantine coincides with the 14 days of isolation for the positive person. The second 14-day quarantine begins once the positive person meets the criteria to return to work or school. Since there are many circumstances to take into account, this time period could vary.
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What precautions will be in place on campuses?
Following the guidance of health experts, we will implement best practices in the following areas:
Screening staff and students
- Staff will be required to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms prior to reporting to work each day.
- Parents/guardians are expected to screen their students for COVID-19 symptoms each day prior to sending their student to school.
- Teachers will monitor students and refer to the nurse if symptoms are present.
Wearing face coverings
- Masks/face shields will be required for all staff working inside facilities with others.
- Students first grade and older are required to wear a face covering at all times, as appropriate.
- Greenville ISD will comply with all health and safety recommendations established by the county health department and the Texas Education Agency.
- Your Child and Face Masks - English
- Your Child and Face Masks - Spanish
Isolating and communicating when COVID-19 symptoms are displayed or a positive test is reported
- When a student has displayed symptoms of COVID-19, the school nurse will provide a clinical assessment to determine if and when a student needs to be sent home.
- Students who are ill will be separated from their peers and should be picked up within 30 minutes and no later than 1 hour from the time the campus contacted the student’s parent/guardian.
- Other students will be removed from the classroom and taken to an alternate location on campus so that the classroom can be disinfected.
- District communication will be provided to the parents of students who came in contact with a COVID-19 positive student or staff member.
- Staff members displaying COVID-19 symptoms will follow district protocols including isolation from students and other staff members.
- Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be required to submit a letter of good health from a physician's office prior to returning to school.
- Students or staff who come into close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days and may not return to campus during that time.
Protocols for Campus Visitors
To minimize campus visits, staff members will utilize virtual meeting options to limit campus visitors when possible. In the case that an in-person visit to campus is necessary, the following precautions will be in place:
- Upon arrival, all visitors will be required to sanitize their hands and answer COVID19 screening questions. Should their visit require them to enter beyond the vestibule, they will also have a temperature check.
- Visitors and staff will maintain physical distancing for ARD and other meetings in smaller conference areas.
Protocols for Disinfecting and Hand Sanitizing
Frequent disinfection and hand sanitization will ensure health and wellness of students and staff.
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer will be available at the main entry to the campus, in classrooms, in the cafeteria and in common areas throughout the campus.
- Staff will be expected to regularly wash or sanitize their hands.
- Students will use hand sanitizer upon entry to classroom.
- Students will thoroughly wash their hands after recess, before eating, and following restroom breaks
Disinfecting Expectations - All staff
- Staff will have access to disinfectant wipes to sanitize high-touch and working surfaces and shared objects regularly.
- Staff will limit the use of shared supplies when possible.
Campus Cleaning and Disinfecting
Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will promote a healthy learning and work environment for students and staff.
Daily Campus Cleaning
- Each classroom and restroom will be disinfected daily.
- All high touch areas will be disinfected daily.
- Cleaning cloths will be changed for each classroom and common area to maximize room to room cleanliness.
- Custodians will wear masks and gloves during work hours.
- The cafeteria will be disinfected between lunch periods.
- Staff will have access to disinfectant wipes to sanitize working surfaces and shared objects after each use and during breaks in instruction.
Additional Cleaning Measure for Covid-19 Positive Cases on Campus
- If a classroom or facility is closed due to COVID-19 spread, quaternary disinfectant, which is recommended for use on the virus that causes COVID-19, will be used to defog and disinfect.
- Custodial staff will defog and disinfect classrooms, restrooms, the athletic indoor turf field, weight room and all additional areas in the entire building.
- Greenville ISD will comply with all health and safety recommendations established by the Hunt County Health Department and the Texas Education Agency.
Tracking COVID-19 levels in the community
- GISD officials will remain in constant contact with Hunt County Health Officials to share disease activity levels in the community. We will alert students, parents and staff of activity levels and, when warranted, adjust on-campus activities.
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Will the ACE after-school program be continuing in 2020-21?
Yes. ACE will be available both virtually and on-site. Student acceptance is based on eligibility and available space. Students must apply to participate in ACE.
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If I choose one option and want to change the choice later in the year, can I make a switch?
Yes, virtual school is a fluid option that can be accessed at any time. It is strongly recommended students/families only make a change at the nine-week grading period, if possible.
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What is the policy on travel outside the continental United States?
Any GISD student or staff member who travels outside of the continental US will be required to quarantine for 14 days upon their return to the US before being allowed to return to any GISD facility.
Students will be allowed to learn remotely during their quarantine. GISD staff will be subject to the rules of the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, both part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
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Will bus transportation be provided?
Yes, transportation will continue to be provided for all who qualify. Bus transportation is provided for all eligible special education students and eligible general education students. The deadline to sign up for bus service will be Friday, August 21st. Any students signing up after that date will not have service the first week of school.
- All ages will be required to wear masks while on the bus. This will be mandatory.
- The bus drivers will put hand sanitizer on each students hand when boarding the bus morning and afternoon. This will be mandatory.
- Buses will loaded from back to front as students enter the bus. All students must comply with these safety rules.
- All buses will be sprayed inside with sanitizer after morning and afternoon routes.
We encourage families to drop students off, carpool, or walk with their student to school to reduce possible virus exposure on buses. Students will be required to utilize hand sanitizer when entering the bus. The cleaning products used by the Greenville ISD custodial staff comply with the CDC approved products for destroying COVID.
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Can students who select virtual school still participate in athletics and extracurricular activities?
Students participating in at-home virtual learning may participate in both before- and after-school athletics and/or extracurricular activities.
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What precautions will be in place for athletics, fine arts, and other extracurricular activities?
Safety guidelines have been developed for conducting all on-campus workouts, rehearsals, and practices. Greenville ISD will continue to follow all guidelines provided by University Interscholastic League, Texas Education Agency, and the state and county.
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What happens if a student or a teacher is displaying COVID-19 symptoms? What happens when someone on campus tests positive for COVID-19?
- When a student has displayed symptoms of COVID-19, the school nurse will provide a clinical assessment to determine if and when a student needs to be sent home.
- Students who are ill will be separated from their peers and should be picked up within 30 minutes and no later than 1 hour from the time the campus contacted the student’s parent/guardian. If the student is of driving age and drove themselves, they will be sent home with parent permission.
- Other students will be removed from the classroom and taken to an alternate location on campus so that the classroom can be disinfected.
- District communication will be provided to the parents of students who came in contact with a confirmed COVID-19-positive student or staff member.
- Staff members displaying COVID-19 symptoms will follow district protocols including isolation from students and other staff members.
- Greenville ISD will notify all teachers, staff, and families of all students in a school if a test-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified among students, teachers, staff or anyone who has been on campus.
- Students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be required to submit a letter of good health from a physician's office prior to returning to school.
- Students or staff who come into close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 positive individual will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days and may not return to campus during that time. Students will participate in online learning during quarantine.
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Are immunizations required for virtual school?
Yes, at this time the Texas Department of State Health Services has not waived the vaccine requirements for students.
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How will virtual school be different from at-home learning during the closure last spring?
Last spring, students’ assignments were limited. Virtual school this year will be a full course load of instruction and assignments that are comparable to what students who are attending school in-person are required to complete. Teachers delivering virtual instruction will receive additional training and support in digital teaching strategies required for virtual school. Paper packets will not be used.
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Will technology devices be available to students who choose the virtual option?
Yes, a technology device will be made available to students who choose the virtual option.
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How will virtual school be staffed?
Schools will continue to be staffed based upon student enrollment. The virtual campus vs. onsite staffing will be determined by enrollment and student course selections.
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What are the options for PreK-Grade 2?
The Texas Education Agency has adjusted its original guidelines regarding PreK-Grade 2. As of June 24, the state is allowing an online option for these young students. This option would require significant partnership on the part of the parent or guardian.
TEA Attendance & Enrollment Guidelines 2020-21
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To see the attendance & enrollment recommendations from TEA click HERE.
Preparing for Remote Instruction
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To view the TEA guidelines & recommendations for remote learning click HERE.