Panhandle Times

Booker ISD issued the following announcement on March 20.

Booker ISD continues to closely monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 and remains in close contact with local and state officials as well as area superintendents. New information is emerging daily, so we ask that families please continue to extend their grace and patience with us as we navigate this unprecedented time. We will update and add to the following questions and answers as new information becomes available. If you have a question that is not addressed below, please send an email to debbie.dempsay@region16.net

• How will we be notified of changes and updates regarding school closure and at-home learning?

Booker ISD will continue to use multiple platforms to address parents, students, and community regarding school closure, operational adjustments, and possible at-home learning including Remind, Facebook, email, automated phone calls, and our district website.  On Wednesday, March 25th – Friday, March 27th, all Booker ISD students and parents will be contacted via phone in order to gain more information about support needed for at home learning and food service.  Parents can send any questions to debbie.dempsay@region16.net.

All campus offices will be closed; however, we will have an operator to answer questions and take messages daily from 8:00am-8:00pm at 806-658-4521-JRH/HS and 806-658-4559-Elementary.  If they are not able to answer your question, you will receive a call back from appropriate staff within 24 hours.

• How will meals be provided to students?

All students will have access to meals.  On Monday, March 23rd, we will begin providing food at the west end of the JRH/HS.  Students may arrive in cars or on foot. Food service is provided for all students of BISD and any child 1-18 years of age who need them. Call the Administrative office at 806-658-4501 or Carmen Gonzales at 806-658-4521 with questions and to reserve your meals. We will only be making meals for those who request them. 

All times for Food Distribution will be 9:00am-10:30am M-F (Times subject to change)

• What is the plan for learning?

Parents, we are here to support you!  We encourage you to set up a space for learning in your home.  In this space, have paper and pen/pencil, crayons or map pencils, and a computer/tablet/phone with internet access (if available).

Our plan is to launch distance learning on Monday, March 30th.  We are working very hard to finalize no-tech, low-tech, and high-tech distance learning for all of our PK-12 Students.  We will get that information to you ASAP through our Booker ISD Website and other forms of communication.

• What if I don’t have the internet or a computer/digital device at home?

On Wednesday, March 25th - Friday March 27th, you will receive a phone call from one of the BISD staff.  Let him/her know about your needs for the internet and computer/digital device.  We will be address technology needs as they arise. 

• What will happen with graduation?

It is too soon to make a decision about graduation.  The district has established a Graduation Committee to formulate plans in the event that we are unable to host a traditional graduation.  We will make certain that the class of 2020 has a graduation celebration, even if it is not traditional.

• What will happen with prom?

It is too soon to make a decision about prom.  We realize that this is difficult for your students; however, we would rather hope for the best than make a quick decision too early on Prom.

• What will happen with STAAR tests?

On March 16, the governor waived STAAR testing for the state of Texas for 2019-2020.  He also requested a waiver from the Federal Government (DOE) to waive the federal requirements for testing this year.  The Federal government has indicated that all testing has been waived.  If a graduating senior still needs to pass EOC tests, he/she will be able to sit for an Individual Graduation Committee (IGC).  Children currently enrolled in EOC tested subjects will essentially be given a waiver for the test for the remainder of their high school career if they are currently passing the course.  For more information on this from the Texas Education Agency you can click here… https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/Updated_Assessment_FAQ_March%2019%20.pdf

• What will happen with dual credit classes at Frank Phillips College? 

Dual Credit Courses from Frank Phillips will continue to be online as they have been all year. Faculty will be in contact by email or portal.   Classes will resume online March 23, 2020.  

• What will happen with class rank and GPA for seniors?

For our high school seniors, the BISD board will have plan in place and approved at the next board meeting.   We will make a decision on all other students in the near future.  During this COVID-19-time period, we will still digitally gather student work/artifacts of learning and provide feedback.  Grades will be collected, but will be in a non-traditional manner.  We will get you more information on this soon.

•  How are we cleaning and sanitizing our buildings? 

Using our professionally trained custodial service, we have and will continue to deep-clean all schools using CDC approved materials and equipment purchased through Mayfield Paper, our Cleaning product supplier.  Our custodial staff and maintenance teams continue to work using social distancing practices.  Touch points, such as desks, doors, and other high touch areas, have been sanitized daily.   

• What do I do if my child(ren) show signs of illness?

Should your child or a family member exhibit symptoms, medical professionals and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are advising that you call your family doctor.  Your family doctor will determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19.  For the vast majority of cases, people will recover at home with fluids, over the counter medication, and rest.  More information can be found on the CDC website.

• What do I tell my child(ren) about the virus and how do I help them understand what is happening?

Please see the resources below to help with discussing COVID-19 with your children. 

Panhandle PBS

National Association of School Psychologists

• What if I need counseling support for my child?

If you have a counseling need for your child during the school closure, please reach out to Jessica Weinette with the name of your child, campus, and your concern. Jessica.weinette@region16.net.  806-658-4521 

• How will my child receive support for special education and/or dyslexia?

These are unprecedented times; the guidance we receive from TEA and other agencies has been changing daily. By Monday, March 30th, Special Education and/or dyslexia staff will be reaching out to parents to determine the best way to proceed in continuing to provide the supplemental services that are in their students’ current IEP and/or 504 plan.  Any future ARD/504 meetings that may need to be held will be through phone conferencing.  Special Education/Dyslexia staff will also be reaching out to children who are served to check on progress. Special education teachers will be providing accommodations and materials to the BISD learning plan

• My family’s financial status has changed; do I qualify for free and reduced lunch and breakfast now? 

Please contact Carmen Gonzales at 806-658-4521 with these questions.

• Does the district need any volunteers to help deliver or serve food?     

We appreciate the request of so many in our community to help.  We want to limit contact and follow our district and federal procedures and guidelines, so at this time, our staff will manage food preparation and pickup. If your business/organization is interested in providing aid/relief to students and families and would like to visit with you 806-658-4501.

•  Will students have to make up the days we miss in the summer?

During these unprecedented times, it is hard to answer this question—yet.  BISD will submit an attestation to the Texas Education Agency documenting our missed days and our efforts to continue learning and providing services to our students.  We do not anticipate that students will have to “make up” days at the end of the year as we are supporting at-home learning.  We will provide more guidance on this as we receive it from TEA.

• How will attendance be taken during at-home learning?

This will vary somewhat.  This information will be forthcoming in the instructional plans in the coming days.  Teachers will be monitoring work and documenting student academic progress along the way.  Formal attendance taking procedures will not resume until we resume regular operations.

• What if I don’t feel safe for my child to return to school?

Once school resumes, if you do not feel safe for your child to return to school due to concerns regarding COVID-19, please keep the child at home and provide documentation to the school that concern of COVID-19 is the reason for the child’s absence.  If you kept your child home prior to March 13th due to concerns of COVID-19, please let your campus know via email.

• How do I enroll in or withdraw from Booker ISD during the school closure? 

If you need to enroll in Booker ISD during the school closure, call BISD at 806-658-4501 between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.  We will help you walk through the enrollment procedure and connect you to your campus principal.  Your campus principal will connect your child(ren) to their new teachers, and we will make sure you have all you need to begin at-home learning.

Should you need to withdraw during this time of school closure, please call BISD at 806-658-4501.  We will ask you to bring any materials you have from the district (Chromebook, books, etc) to central by appointment.  We will assist you in the withdrawal process during the appointment.

Thank you for your patience and continued support 

as we navigate thru this situation.

Original source can be found here.