WACO

Learning: 100 percent in-person, online option available

Face Coverings: Recommended

The WACO Community School District will be welcoming students back into its buildings on Aug. 24 in a 100 percent in-person learning model with an online option available for families through various online platforms. Parents will have until Sept. 11 to inform the district on whether their student will complete the semester online or join in-person.

The district's plan has outlined buildings operations and mitigation plans that includes a recommendation for face masks when physical distancing is not possible. The choice to wear a covering will be at the discretion of parents and students. Masks will be required on buses and seats will be assigned.

The return-to-learn plan notes a survey found 69 percent of families in the district 'believe face masks should be optional.”

The district will have face shields available for staff and will require staff members to get their temperature recorded each morning. Parents are asked to take student's temperatures every morning before school.

Each building will have a designated staff member to address needs of students and staff. The designated person will be trained to respond and care for students and faculty who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms.

The district will be monitoring absenteeism and ask parents and staff to 'report the reason for absenteeism … to better monitor illness.”

The district has invested in various cleaning equipment including UV-C lamps to clean sporting equipment as well as foggers, which will run through school buildings a minimum of once a day.

The district will aim to remain in the face-to-face learning model until the district's county reaches a '15 to 20 percent positivity … on average over the past 14 days and 10 percent absenteeism among students expected for in-person learning.”

The district's return-to-learn plan is available on the district's website.

–Ashley Duong