Fort Bend Independent School District: Sayavedra Sums It Up (8/6/2021)

Press release from Fort Bend Independent School District:

8/6/2021

The first day of the 2021-22 school year is fast approaching. This edition of Sayavedra Sums It Up addresses several important items discussed and/or voted on by the Board of Trustees at the special meeting on Wednesday, August 4, 2021.

Acting Superintendent Diana Sayavedra gives a brief overview of the superintendent search and addresses questions and concerns about wearing masks. She also discusses requests for virtual school. Please click here to read a comprehensive article on the facts related to a remote learning program.

Hello Again Everyone, I’m Fort Bend ISD Acting Superintendent Diana Sayavedra. Let me start by saying congratulations to Pasha Goodman who – at the Board’s Special Meeting on Wednesday- was approved by trustees as the District’s new Director of Teacher Development. Congratulations, Ms. Goodman.

Also, at Wednesday’s Special Meeting the Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding for Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program services. As the largest school district in the county, Fort Bend ISD is the designated education provider for students in the juvenile justice system. Trustees also approved a revised agreement between Fort Bend ISD, the Fort Bend County Juvenile Board and the County to continue collaborating with the Saved by the Bell program to address truancy in the District. Another important action the Board took at the Special Meeting, by a unanimous vote, was the approval of the 2021-22 Student Code of Conduct.  For specific details regarding dress code and other behavior expectations, please visit our website.

I'd like to acknowledge parents and members of the public who took the time to attend the meeting to express their concerns. We hear you and respect your viewpoints. In accordance with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Executive Order that took effect in June, students, staff, parents, and visitors will no longer be required to wear masks in schools or in District buildings. However, any individual may wear a mask if they choose to do so. Personal choice about mask wearing is always to be respected by everyone. Face coverings protect the wearer and significantly reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 to others. Guidance from the CDC, as well as local and state health agencies, recommends that people wear facial coverings whether you are vaccinated or not. I understand that some of you feel anxious about having your children back in the classroom. I assure you safety and health are always of the utmost importance to us. Our safety protocols include extensive, practical actions such as frequent cleaning and disinfecting our schools and buildings, facilitating regular handwashing and sanitizing, social distancing 3 feet when possible and avoiding physical contact.

Additionally, as always, students and staff are instructed to stay home when feeling ill. Persons who test positive for COVID or have been exposed to someone who tested positive must quarantine at home.  Likewise, a student at school who shows symptoms of being ill will be sent to the nurse for immediate evaluation. Additionally, we are reminding our community to practice healthy habits such as exercising, drinking plenty of water, eating nutritious foods, and getting adequate sleep. The District remains vigilant in our response to rising COVID infection rates and consistently consults with county authorities, Region 4 leaders, and other school districts about best practices for mitigating the spread of the virus. Wednesday evening the Board of Trustees also met with representatives of the Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates superintendent search firm for a workshop on conducting successful interviews and properly vetting superintendent candidates. The first round of interviews is scheduled to begin next week. And finally, we are aware that local parents are circulating petitions requesting 2021-22 virtual school options for children too young to receive COVID vaccines. I want to let you know why that is not a viable option in Fort Bend ISD. Financial data shows a remote learning program could result in a total loss of $33 million for the District. Previous state funding for virtual schools expired last school year and the state legislature failed to act on a bill during the last session that would have funded a virtual learning option in the new school year. When that happened, Fort Bend ISD had to cancel a proposed Virtual Learning Program for students with medical conditions that place them at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Those students may qualify to receive academic instruction at home through the District's home bound services program. Long standing systems are in place to support those students and their families. There are additional details outlining why pursuing a virtual school program would not be a viable option at this time – including the fact that virtual classes could potentially contribute to the learning loss that has occurred during the pandemic. I invite you to visit the District’s website for a detailed article on the factors that guided our decision. Please know that Fort Bend ISD will continue to monitor data and any state level changes associated with funding for virtual instruction and revisit or adjust plans should the need arise. And that Sums it Up!

This press release was produced by Fort Bend Independent School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.