FORNEY, Texas — The following information is the latest we have received from school districts within Kaufman County. A timeline of our news coverage and district statements can be found below the district list.
FORNEY, Texas — The following information is the latest we have received from school districts within Kaufman County. A timeline of our news coverage and district statements can be found below the district list.
FORNEY ISD — Remote learning March 16- April 3. All campuses closed. All school activities/events are cancelled until further notice. Re-evaluation expected no later than April 3. [https://www.forneyisd.net/healthupdate]
TERRELL ISD — Spring Break March 16-20. Extended closure until April 3 with at-home learning. All extra-circular activities and student programs canceled during same period. [http://www.terrellisd.org/covid-19]
KAUFMAN ISD — Spring Break March 16-20. Extended closure until April 3. All extra-curricular activities canceled or suspended until further notice. Additional instructional materials sent home with students in case of additional closures. [https://www.kaufmanisd.net/district/departments/new-health-services/coronavirus-covid-19]
CRANDALL ISD — Spring Break March 16-20. Extended closure until Friday, April 3. To meet later this week to plan ways to learn beyond the classroom. [https://4.files.edl.io/e4a9/03/17/20/044711-43007e5e-ac6d-4560-974b-6d896c8e7ae0.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1ZO9AnOYrxwvzwiPuDFUgyCYoCBiddi2NHUcKIG7cRJW_U-P9gm5IlTj4]
MABANK ISD — Schools will remain closed March 16-20. Reviewing at-home assignments and/or distance learning. [https://www.mabankisd.net/upload/page/0060/docs/COVID_19_MISD_Update_031320.pdf]
SCURRY-ROSSER ISD — Spring Break March 16-20. Extended closure until April 3. All UIL activities suspended until March 29.
KEMP ISD — Spring Break March 16-20.
Latest news coverage timeline from inForney.com:
UPDATE [Mar. 18] — Terrell ISD announced an extended closure until April 3, 2020, with at-home learning.
UPDATE #2 [Mar. 17] — Scurry-Rosser ISD and Kaufman ISD have announced an extended closure of school campuses, beyond Spring Break, until April 3.
UPDATE [Mar. 17] — Forney ISD has announced an additional week of remote learning with a possible return date of Monday, April 6.
The Crandall Independent School District has announced they will remain closed, following the end of Spring Break, until Friday, April 3. Later this week, district officals will meet to discuss ways to learn beyond the classroom.
UPDATE [Mar. 16] — The Terrell Independent School District has announced a closure of all campuses following this week's Spring Break, the latest district among many across the state considering or implementing such closures in response to COVID-19 concerns.
"After considering many factors, Terrell ISD has made the decision to close all campuses following Spring Break beginning Monday, March 23 through Friday, March 27," read a statement from the district. "This includes all extra-circular activities and student programs."
"This decision was not made lightly and one that was made after taking into account expert health recommendations and guidance from the Texas Education Agency," stated the district.
See the district's full statement below.
The Crandall Independent School District had not yet made a decision on any additional closures following this week's Spring Break, according to a March 13-dated letter from Superintendent Wendy Eldredge on the district's website.
Kaufman ISD, which sent home additional at-home curriculum in the event of additional closures, have not announced such closures, as of Monday morning.
ORIGINAL [Mar. 13] — The Forney Independent School District has announced one-week remote virtual learning due to COVID-19 concerns, the district announced moments ago.
Forney ISD's Spring Break officially ended today and students were expected to return to campus on Monday before today's announcement. Instead, the district says instructions will be sent later this evening to parents and teachers for at-home, online learning.
Students are instructed not to return to campus next week, a district spokesperson told inForney.com.
"If virtual learning is required beyond next week, the district will re-evaluate no later than March 20," read a statement from the district. "This situation is fluid and may change with very little notice in the coming weeks."
Yesterday, the district requested self-reporting of all students and their parents or guardians who may have traveled during Spring Break.
All Forney ISD school activities and events were also canceled until further notice, to include all District 13-5A athletic activities.
Terrell ISD announced the suspension all district activities, athletic games, practices, tryouts through their regularly scheduled Spring Break next week. A decision on any extension of Spring Break is expected by next Wednesday, the district stated.
Kaufman ISD has canceled or postponed all extra-curricular activities until further notice. Students were sent home with additional instructional materials that will be completed after Spring Break in the event the district decides to remain closed following next week's regularly-scheduled Spring Break.
Mabank ISD will remain closed from Monday, March 16, 2020, until Friday, March 20, while the district evaluates at-home assignments and/or distance learning for students.
Kemp ISD closed school on Friday, which was previously planned as a half day and said additional notifications would be sent in case of additional school closures.
The announcement comes as other districts in north Texas and throughout the state have taken or are considering similar responses in wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization earlier this week — the first such designation since the H1N1 "swine flu" pandemic declaration in 2009. At that time, similar measures and contingency plans were set in motion by school districts in response to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Texas Education Agency recently notified school districts who opt to educate remotely due to coronavirus concerns they could apply for waivers to avoid state-funding penalties.
This is a developing story and will be updated with the latest information from districts throughout Kaufman County, and some surrounding districts.
DISTRICT STATEMENTS
FULL STATEMENT FROM FORNEY ISD:
Good afternoon, Forney Family.
Before and during spring break, Forney ISD has continued to actively monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) developments in conjunction with local, state and CDC health officials. After receiving additional information from TEA today, Forney ISD will launch virtual learning for students early next week.
We will send additional information via email this evening with information for those that need alternatives to virtual learning due to internet access or that need school meals provided.
All school activities/events are cancelled until further notice. District 13-5A has unanimously approved suspension of all athletic activities until further notice.
If virtual learning is required beyond next week, the district will re-evaluate no later than March 20. This situation is fluid and may change with very little notice in the coming weeks. By providing virtual learning, we do not anticipate extending the school year in order to “make up” any days.
Staff will receive a separate email with more information later today. Forney ISD offices and campuses will be closed to outside visitors next week as well.
We understand that proactive measures are superior to reactive measures in terms of controlling the number of new cases, and shifting temporarily to virtual learning will help prevent exposure to students, staff and the community. We do not make this decision lightly and realize it presents significant difficulties to working parents who have young, school-aged children. But we are hopeful that these measures will better ensure the long-term health and safety of our Forney Family.
We will be updating www.forneyisd.net/healthupdate, as well as sending emails to the parent/guardian contacts in our system. Please make sure your information is updated in Skyward.
Please do your part to help prevent the spread of disease by limiting your travel and limiting attendance at social gatherings and public events. As always, the safety of our students, staff, and families remains a top priority, and we will act out of an abundance of caution to protect everyone’s health and wellbeing.
FULL STATEMENT FROM TERRELL ISD:
MARCH 16, 2020 — Dear Tiger Family,
The safety, health, and well being of our students, staff, and community is the District’s highest priority. After considering many factors, Terrell ISD has made the decision to close all campuses following Spring Break beginning Monday, March 23 through Friday, March 27. This includes all extra-circular activities and student programs. This decision was not made lightly and one that was made after taking into account expert health recommendations and guidance from the Texas Education Agency.
District officials will meet on Wednesday, March 18 to discuss details and plan our next steps, including mobilizing a plan to ensure that students will have access to meals during the closure. We will announce more information following the meeting on Wednesday.
Together we are navigating unprecedented territory. We want to assure you that we are diligently working with local and state officials to make the best and safest decisions for our families. We are facing a difficult situation, but we are asking our Terrell Tiger community to continue to be supportive, kind, and caring to one another. Please also continue to adhere to the preventative measures as recommended by public health officials, such as limiting interaction and practicing social distancing.
Terrell ISD has created a dedicated COVID-19 web page at to provide the most current and accurate district information: http://www.terrellisd.org/covid-19.
MARCH 13, 2020 — Tiger Family,
In light of the progression of Coronavirus (COVID-19), Terrell ISD has made the decision to suspend all District activities, athletic games, practices, tryouts, etc. including those that pertain to Terrell ExCEL and the ExCEL Fitness Center beginning after school today, Friday, March 13 through the regularly scheduled spring break which ends on Sunday, March 22. As we learn new information each day, our team will continue to evaluate our plan of action. The District will make a decision regarding the extension of Spring Break on Wednesday, March 18.
The District continues to work closely with local, state, and federal health authorities as we determine our next steps. We will send updates as they become available via Remind (text @TerrellISD to phone number 81010 to receive messages), the District Facebook page, and the District website: www.terrellisd.org. In the event of a school closure, all parents will additionally receive an automated phone call.
Terrell ISD has a created a dedicated COVID-19 webpage to provide the most current and accurate district information. This page is being updated frequently, so please check periodically for updates: www.terrellisd.org/covid-19.
FULL STATEMENT FROM KAUFMAN ISD:
Parents,
I want to update you on Kaufman ISD’s current response to the coronavirus. Over the past few days, we have seen things change very quickly in relation to the need for social isolation. We remain in contact with local, state, and federal authorities as well as neighboring school districts in order to coordinate our plans for the future. The following decisions have been made in order to safeguard the health of our students and staff.
1. All Kaufman ISD extracurricular events and practices will be canceled or postponed beginning March 14 until further notice. We are still working with UIL about the bi-district one-act play competition and will keep those parents informed.
2. Kaufman ISD students will be bringing home additional instructional materials. Please locate these materials and keep them in a safe place for now so that they can be returned to the school with the student. These materials are being provided in case it becomes necessary to close school after spring break. You will be notified by social media, Remind, and other means IF we decide to close schools after Spring Break. Only then should students begin to work through the additional materials provided.
3. Kaufman ISD cafeterias will provide meals as needed during any school closures after Spring Break. Additional details will be shared as needed.
Decisions like these are not easy to make. Please understand that we are taking these steps out of an abundance of caution. As of today, there are no COVID-19 cases reported in Kaufman ISD. Please care for yourself and your family and follow all health recommendations.
This is new territory for most of us and I am grateful for your support as we face these obstacles together… as only LIONS can!
FULL STATEMENT FROM MABANK ISD:
Dear Mabank ISD Community, We want to extend our sincere appreciation to our community for the concern and care that you’ve shown during the rapidly changing circumstances surrounding COVID-19. As a district, Mabank ISD remains committed to providing an outstanding education in a safe and secure learning environment. Please know that students are always at the heart of our decisions, and we are managing this situation with them and our entire community in mind. As circumstances continue to evolve, we will stay in touch with our community to provide timely and concise information based on the most current guidance from our local, state and federal health authorities.
As we continue to assess the situation in our community and as travelers return from Spring Break, schools will remain closed Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20. We are currently reviewing options for at-home assignments and/or distance learning for students. The district will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation prior to reopening school on Monday, March 23, and will communicate across all channels as updated information becomes available. During this time, district offices will be closed and all district events and competitions that have been scheduled within the district during this timeframe will be considered canceled until further notice. District travel for student competitions and events outside the district will be suspended at the end of the day today (3/13/20) and evaluated on a case-by-case basis going forward.
We are taking these steps out of an abundance of caution. Given all we currently know, and what we can anticipate based on information from local, state and national agencies, we believe this is the most prudent course of action at this time.
Meanwhile, care for yourself, your family and those around you, and continue to adhere to the preventative measures as recommended by public health officials, such as limiting interaction and practicing social distancing. Visit the CDC website for more information.
This is a rapidly progressing situation, which impacts every citizen across the globe. Thank you for your patience and partnership as we work together to deliver a successful learning experience for our students under these unprecedented circumstances.