Board reveals new safety protocols in preparation for students on campus

During+Monday+evening%E2%80%99s+Coppell+ISD+Board+meeting%2C+the+district+revealed+new+safety+guidelines+that+will+be+followed+once+in-person+school+opens+on+Sept.+8.+Richard+J.+Lee+Elementary%2C+Valley+Ranch+Elementary%2C+Lakeside+Elementary+and+Wilson+Elementary+received+the+Texas+Elementary+Principals+and+Supervisors+Association+%28TEPSA%29+student+leadership+award.+Graphic+by+Sreeja+Mudumby.

Sreeja Mudumby

During Monday evening’s Coppell ISD Board meeting, the district revealed new safety guidelines that will be followed once in-person school opens on Sept. 8. Richard J. Lee Elementary, Valley Ranch Elementary, Lakeside Elementary and Wilson Elementary received the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) student leadership award. Graphic by Sreeja Mudumby.

Avani Kashyap, Daily News/Assignment Editor

Once in-person school begins on Sept. 8, all Coppell ISD campuses will follow new health protocols to help protect against COVID-19. Prior to entering the building, all staff will be required to take a daily health screening survey. If any symptoms exist, the employees will not enter the building.

This plan was shared at Monday’s CISD Board of Trustees meeting. 

In order to comply with social distancing guidelines, marks will be placed six feet apart on the floor, and students will be encouraged to maintain this distance. One way traffic will also be implemented, and hand sanitizers will be widely available throughout the campuses.

All students and staff will be required to wear masks until transmission levels are not substantial or moderate. Classrooms, cafeterias and other high touch areas will also be disinfected daily.

During the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Brad Hunt and chief operations officer Dr. Greg Axelson provided updates regarding the first week of school. 

“Our professional learning was very strong, very robust and focused heavily on social emotional learning as well, which is one of our board and superintendent goals,” Dr. Hunt said. “I really appreciate our curriculum team and all the teachers that helped with learning as we got ready to go back to school.”

The district is tracking attendance through engagement in Schoology, which will be heavily used during in-person and distance learning. As per the Texas Education Agency (TEA) guidelines, students must have 90% attendance, so learners are required to check and interact with Schoology each day.

If students are having issues with technology, they are encouraged to submit a help desk ticket. From Aug. 3 to Aug. 14, more than 50 hotspots were delivered to families in need, and if internet connectivity problems arise, students may come to WiFi buses available at all three middle schools and Wilson Elementary.

Furthermore, Lakeside Elementary, Richard J. Lee Elementary, Valley Ranch Elementary and Wilson Elementary were recognized for receiving the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) student leadership award. The district also received 28 state awards from the Texas Schools Public Relations Association (TSPRA) for the Communications and Community Engagement department.