San Marcos CISD provides update on meals, online learning, school calendar

SAN MARCOS, Texas - The San Marcos CISD board of trustees met Monday to discuss district programs as the district navigates the suspension of normal operations due to COVID-19.

The district has suspended normal operations through April 5 but says it is planning in case the suspension has to be extended.

CHILD NUTRITION

The district says beginning Monday, March 23, free curbside meals will be provided at the following locations and times:

Breakfast from 8:30-9:30 a.m.: Travis Elementary School and San Marcos High School
Lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Travis Elementary School, San Marcos High School, Allen Wood Housing, C.M. Allen Housing and Redwood Baptist Church

The meals are for children 18 and under and they must be in the vehicle to receive meals. The district says it is currently considering additional sites and delivery options.

Texas declares public health disaster, closes restaurant dining rooms and schools

The orders take effect at midnight and will go through midnight on April 3.

HUMAN RESOURCES

The board passed a motion Thursday to not modify the school calendar and workdays for students and staff. The district says this allows for maintaining the current academic and work calendar as originally scheduled.

"To be abundantly clear, there will be no extension to either the academic or the work calendar because of this crisis," says the district.

The board also passed a resolution that there will be no pay disruption for all district staff. All district employees will be paid throughout the 2019-20 academic year, says the district.

What does the public health disaster entail?

Abbott said the statewide orders are to make sure Texas is following guidance provided by the federal government.

ONLINE AND AT-HOME LEARNING

The district says that beginning Monday, March 30, parents will receive information from teachers and campus principals on how to access specific assignments and instructional resources.

The district says if access to technology is limited or unavailable, parents will be provided with directions on how to pick up hard copies of instructional materials from campus. "We will also make contact in the future to discuss options for the school district to provide and assist with technology and Wi-Fi," says the district. The board also approved the purchases of Wi-Fi hotspots for district households and the district is asking families in need of internet access at home to contact campus principals to coordinate a plan.

The special education department will be in direct contact with parents whose children receive support regarding accommodations, modifications and specialized lessons in accordance with individualized education plans.

The district says parents should allot approximately three hours a day to learning activities. The district will send weekly links of lessons via district communication platforms beginning March 26. Lessons will be provided in two different formats:

A list of lessons by grade level
Lessons in a structured format, including when to have breaks, physical movement, etc.

Campus principals and teachers will guide parents and students through the process beginning the week of March 30.

READ THE FULL UPDATE AVAILABLE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH BELOW:

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST INFO ON THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

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