FAQ

Registration

If I choose one option and want to change the choice later in the year, can I make a switch?

Yes. There will be defined opportunities after each grading period where changes can be made to the educational setting. While the district is asking you to make a decision during the summer regarding how your child will start the new school year, please know that we understand that you are having to make this decision based on the current situation with COVID-19 and with potentially changing information. Parents will have until at least two weeks before the first day of school to change their minds about placement.

After the school year begins, a parent who chooses remote instruction for their child and later wants to switch to in-person instruction may do so at the end of a grading period. A parent who chooses in-person instruction for their child and later wants to switch to remote instruction may do so at any time.

Please note that if a student switches between in-person learning and remote learning, then that student may not have the same teacher(s) or course schedule, as teachers may or may not be teaching both a remote and an in-person class.

What if most families choose the traditional option? Would there have to be changes to accommodate social distancing or will there be a limit of how many students can select the traditional option?

We will be able to provide instruction to all students in whichever format their families choose. We will also comply with all mandates regarding social distancing, as well as health and hygiene protocols.

How will you address social emotional or mental health concerns?

Counselors are available to support students academically, socially, and emotionally and can provide mental health support or resources for families who may be struggling emotionally. Contact information for your child's counselor and local mental health resources can be found on the District website. To ensure staff is equipped to address social/emotional and mental health concerns, PISD counselors will continue to host training opportunities for all staff including trauma-informed care, mental health first aid, and social emotional learning.

Will students and staff be required to wear masks?

On July 2, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA 29, relating to the use of face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Governor Abbott’s current guidelines, every person 10 years of age or older is required to wear a face covering while inside a public building whenever it is not feasible to maintain six feet of social distance from another person not in the same household, with limited exceptions. We currently understand this mandate to include schools. We are continuing to assess how this order is carried out in the school setting, and at this time, we will require all students to wear face masks in certain situations.

We will also comply with any mandates provided by Wilson County regarding face coverings and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). In addition, we are exploring other options to secure the purchase of clear face shields for staff and students who want them. We will update this information as soon as it is available.

PISD@Home

Will buses run?

Transportation services will continue to be provided for all who qualify. Bus transportation is provided for all special education students and eligible general education students.

Will social distancing be observed on buses, and how will seating arrangements be determined?

Social distancing will not be observed on our buses. However, students will be required to wear face masks, and assigned specific seats, and a seating chart will be maintained by the bus driver. Our bus drives and students will be required to wear face coverings while on the bus. Hand sanitizer will be provided when boarding the bus. Students are required to remain seated at all times and keep their hands and arms to themselves. Students should not touch each other or share any items. School buses will be cleaned and disinfected twice per day.

How will the District monitor bathrooms, cafeterias, gyms, and other commons areas?

All areas of the campus will be monitored frequently to prevent student crowding to the extent possible. Classrooms will be assigned specific bathroom, breakfast, lunch and gym access times to limit the number of students in any given area. Signage reminding students and staff about handwashing, social distancing, and infection prevention will be posted throughout the school.

What precautions will be in place for extracurricular activities?

Safety guidelines have been developed for conducting all on-campus workouts, rehearsals, and practices during the summer. The District will continue to update and follow all guidelines provided by the University Interscholastic League (UIL), the Texas Education Agency (TEA), and the State of Texas as more guidance is provided on ways to safely conduct these activities.

Will students have recess or the ability to play and socialize with other students?

We are awaiting guidance from the Texas Education Agency on recess activities. Elementary campuses will limit the number of students at recess at one time and create different play areas for activities to further reduce student interactions. Students and staff will be required to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands before and after recess.

What happens if a student or a teacher tests positive for COVID-19? Will the entire classroom have to quarantine and enroll in virtual school? What if multiple classrooms and students/staff are impacted?

If an individual who has been in a school is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school must close off areas that are heavily used by the individual with the lab-confirmed case (student, teacher, or staff) until the non-porous surfaces in those areas can be disinfected, unless more than three days have already passed since that person was on campus. If conditions necessitate closure of a campus, according to TEA guidelines, the campus may be closed for no longer than five consecutive days, unless the state orders a longer mandatory shutdown.

Consistent with school notification requirements for other communicable diseases, and consistent with legal confidentiality requirements, schools must notify all teachers, staff, and families of all students in a school if a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified among students, teachers or staff who participate on any on campus activities. Any individuals who are either: (a) are lab-confirmed to have COVID-19; or (b) experience the symptoms of COVID-19 must stay at home throughout the infection period, and cannot return to campus until the school system screens the individual to determine if specified re-entry conditions have been met. Students will access instructional content at home during the quarantine period.

Face-to-Face (F2F) Instruction

Can students who select remote instruction still participate in athletics and extracurricular activities?

No, students are not eligible to participate in extracurricular activities as long as they are participating in PISD@Home. However, after six weeks, a student may return to F2F instruction and resume participation if that student meets UIL eligibility requirements. Further eligibility criteria should be discussed with the coach/sponsor of the activity.

Will meals be provided for students who select remote instruction?

There are currently no state or federal regulations that allow districts to serve meals to students who are not present on campus. The District will continue to monitor for guidelines regarding possible changes.

Will the remote learning curriculum mirror the in-person curriculum?

Both remote and in-person learning will be designed for mastery of student learning outcomes based on the academic standards called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for each content area. Expectations for coursework and guidelines for grading for remote and in-person learning will be the same.

How will remote learning this fall differ from remote learning during the closure last spring?

Students who select remote learning will be required to participate in class and demonstrate progress on a daily basis and instruction will be facilitated by a teacher. During the past spring, student assignments were limited. Remote learning this fall will be a full course load of instruction and assignments that is comparable to what students who are attending school in person will be required to complete.

Will my child still receive special services?

Students who receive special services or accommodations through Special Education, English as a Second Language, Bilingual Education, Section 504, etc. and choose remote learning will be served. Those student services will be implemented to the extent reasonably practicable in the remote setting.

What if our families do not have home access to the Internet and/or a device to access remote learning?

Families will need to request such devices (Chromebooks or Hotspots) from their campus which their students are attending for checkout.

When will my family need to make a decision on students attending in-person learning at school or remote learning at home?

Parents will receive a commitment form via Remind, Facebook and this website with instructions on how to choose for each child in their family. The due dates will be communicated at that time. According to the Texas Education Agency, parents will have until two weeks before the first day of school to change their minds about placement. Parents will receive a direct email explaining this process and timeline.