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COVID-19 Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Procedures

COVID-19 Prevention, Mitigation and Response Procedures

As we plan for returning to school at Southside ISD, we recognize that this will be an unusual school year, but we remain committed to supporting your student’s learning, as well as his or her safety.

This document outlines the procedures our campuses will have in place to prevent or mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and to respond if a positive case is identified. We hope this transparency helps you to make a decision about your student’s on-campus attendance at Southside ISD.

The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect people of all ages. That said, research from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), among others, has found that while children do get infected by COVID-19 and some severe outcomes have been reported in children, relatively few children with COVID-19 are hospitalized or have severe symptoms. For many children, there are distinct benefits to attending school in person, including instructional, social, and safety benefits. For these reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics has made a statement supporting on-campus instruction for students in the coming year.

While it is not possible to eliminate all risk of furthering the spread of COVID-19, the current science suggests there are many steps schools can take to reduce the risks to students, teachers, staff, and their families significantly. The Southside Independent School District strategy for opening and operating is outlined below.

Download the Southside ISD COVID-19 Prevention, Mitigation, and Response Procedures. | Descargue los procedimientos de prevención, mitigación y respuesta de Southside ISD COVID-19.

Southside ISD Releases Safely Reopening Plan

Southside Independent School District has released its Plan to Proceed for the return to school in Fall 2020-21. The plan outlines the district’s guidelines;

  • It is important to Southside ISD that students and staff feel safe when learning and working.
  • Beyond the social distancing measures and protective equipment recommendations and additional sanitizing measures, Southside Independent School District will keep children and employees first in all decisions and actions taken to protect them and our learning environment.
  • Our commitment extends to our goal to ensure that, during challenging times, our schools and facilities remain places of social, mental, and academic support.
  • Southside ISD health and school experts monitor guidance from San Antonio Metro Health, The Centers for Disease Control and other local, State, and Federal Health Agencies so that we can adapt quickly to the ever-changing health.
  • Southside ISD continues to strive to offer the best educational opportunities possible and for supporting our efforts of Service, Accountability, Integrity, and Leadership regardless of current conditions.
  • We are committed to the safety and well-being of our community so that, together we may realize the Core Principles of Southside ISD.

Learn Your Way Plan - August 2020

El Aprende Tu Camino - Agosto 2020

Sat. July 25 Food Distribution Postponed

San Antonio Metro Health is discouraging large gatherings because of the surge of COVID-19. Consequently, the District is postponing the Saturday, July 25 San Antonio Food Bank food distribution at the Kym Rapier Food Pantry. We plan on distributing food again on Saturday, August 8. You can still receive emergency food assistance by clicking here and contacting the San Antonio Food Bank. Also, we are in need of volunteers. Please email Mr. Randy Escamilla at randy.escamilla@southsideisd.org or call 210-882-1600 ext. 5125.

Board Report from July 16, 2020

Board Report from Thursday, July 16, 2020

The Southside ISD Board of Managers met via digital communications on Thursday, July 16, 2020. The meeting was conducted pursuant to Governor Abbott’s Temporary Suspension of Open Meetings Laws issued on March 16, 2020, the meeting was conducted via Google Hangouts Meet Online Videoconference. Present:  Board President, Mrs. Dolores Sendejo; Vice President, Dr. Lonna Clinch; Secretary, Mrs. Velia Minjarez; Mr. Bruce Brannon, Mr. Jesse Hernandez, Mrs. Katie Farias, Ms. Margarita Morales, and Superintendent of Schools Mr. Rolando Ramirez.

PRESENTATIONS:

  • INFORMATION: District Chief Financial Officer; Mr. Stanley Osborne presented a review of financial statements for June 2020.
  • INFORMATION: Transition Plan for 2020-2021 School Year.  Deputy Superintendent; Dr. Fred Hayes gave a presentation on the District’s Transition Plan. Superintendent Mr. Rolando Ramirez said, “Parents should be the deciders of their children’s education.”  The following learning models were offered:

– remote learning

– hybrid model

– In-person model

 

Dr. Hayes also presented the Safely Reopen Plan. Among the Guiding principles:

  • Students and staff feel safe
  • SISD will keep children and employees 1st in all decisions
  • Will seek guidance from SA Metro Health
  • SISD will offer the best educational opportunities

 

The Safely Reopen Plan also includes:

  • Roles and Responsibilities for participation involving students, parents, and teachers.

The Learn Your Way Plan

  • Cardinal Schoolhouse learning option (in-school instruction)
  • Cardinal Half & Half option (blended model of in-school instruction and virtual learning)
  • Cardinal Online Academy learning option (PreK-12 online program)

Pre-registration is required for all.

Dr. Hayes presented that all student instruction will be remote for at least the first three weeks (depending on local health conditions).

In-person learning will be left up to parents.

The School Operations contains numerous guidelines including:

  • Personal protective equipment
  • Sanitizing guidelines
  • Arrival, dismissal, and transition guidelines

COVID-19 Health Protocols

Stage 1 – Prevention

Stage 2 – Mitigation

Stage 3 – Closure

Stage 4 – District Closure

We will schedule parent meetings during the week of July 20. The meetings will provide parents will important information on returning back-to-school for Fall 2020.

Additionally, Southside ISD will conduct a one-day test run. The District is also exploring temperature tunnels to expedite our students’ entry into campuses.

Superintendent Ramirez said, “We will train students on transitioning into remote learning on a days’ notice. We will also maintain close contact with San Antonio Metro Health.”

  • INFORMATION: Cardinal Academy Summer Blast (summer school) Principal Mr. Ricardo Moreno reported 621 Kindergarten through 8th-grade students were enrolled in the program.
  • Summer School High School Principal Mr. Michael Miller reported that 300 high school students were enrolled in the summer credit recovery program which is 100 percent self-paced.

INFORMATION:  Update on Curriculum Writing – District Director of School Improvement; Dr. Jodi Spoor reported that there will be a standardized writing curriculum across the District utilizing technology. Additionally, all campuses will now have the same resources, i.e. accelerated reading. Dr. Spoor said, “We will provide quality education from minute one.”

INFORMATION:  Unified Dress Code (uniforms) – Assistant Superintendent; Dr. Genese Bell discussed the possibility of exploring uniforms for Southside ISD students. Among the benefits she pointed out that having a unified dress code:

  • Promotes school unity and a sense of belonging
  • Sense of pride
  • Safety

Superintendent Ramirez said he supports uniform shirts saying, “It’s an equalizer and brings a sense of belonging.”

Superintendent Ramirez said parents will be surveyed to learn sentiment on uniform shirts.

CONSENT AGENDA Items A-D:  Approved by the Board

ACTION ITEMS

#1 The Board approved 2020-2021 Calendar Option 1. The first day of school is August 17, 2020. The calendar was approved by a majority of parents and employees surveyed.

#2 The Board approved the purchase of more than $50,000 for Chromebooks to assist Southside ISD students who need the technology.

#3 The Board approved the purchase of more than $50,000 for Wi-Fi hotspots to assist Southside ISD students who need Internet access.

#4 The Board approved the purchase of more than $50,000 for laptops to replace aging laptops being used by teachers and District staff.

#5 The Board approved a budget amendment for the TIRZ payment from the General Fund.

#6 The Board approved a budget amendment allowing the purchase of furniture for the Menchaca Early Childhood Center principal’s office.

#7 The Board approved the purchase of more than $50,000 for a walk-in freezer/cooler for the District’s Child Nutrition Department.

#8 The Board approved the purchase of more than $50,000 to provide coverage for sports and other activities with Monarch Management Corporation DBA Alamo Insurance Group.

There was no Closed Meeting (executive session) and the Board meeting adjourned at

8:47 p.m.

Cardinal Academy Summer Blast makes learning fun

  • The Agis girls love summer school. Pictured left to right: America, Sara, and Frida.
  • Incoming Gallardo Elementary first-grader Sara Agis has fun learning.
  • Losoya Middle School 7th-grader America Agis focuses on summer school.

Inside Mrs. Jennifer Ariza’s immaculate home in the District’s Villa Coronado neighborhood, you can hear the sound of children clicking on computers. Mrs. Ariza is a huge advocate for education. As a result, her daughters love school. She’s also well aware that keeping their minds active is central to their success. Mrs. Ariza was one of the first parents to register her girls for the District’s Cardinal Academy Summer Blast.

“Students have gone months without receiving school support. The Cardinal Academy Summer Blast helps them have a fresh mind and willing to learn new subjects. They should also be entertained in something productive and what better way than to review and catch up with everything they have learned in school,” Mrs. Ariza said.

The four-week program began this week and is designed to be both educational and entertaining. Previous district summer schools focused only on helping struggling students. However, the Cardinal Academy Summer Blast is for all students and includes:

  • exercise with friends
  • reading activities
  • choir fun
  • math games (become a math magician)
  • science experiments
  • prizes
  • summer meals.

It’s also the first time that Southside ISD has held an all-digital summer school. Superintendent Mr. Rolando Ramirez says this summer school is like starting the school year a month in advance. For example, third-graders are exposed to fourth-grade material and fourth-graders are exposed to fifth-grade content. “I want this to be like the start of the new school year. The idea is to expose as many students as we can to what they’ll be seeing in the upcoming school year. Teachers will also get to know the student and their parents,” said Superintendent Ramirez.

Mrs. Ariza said her daughters would much rather be studying in school right now than learning from home. However, she says, it’s important to adapt to the current situation and support and appreciate the school district’s work.

“Of course, it is always good for children to interact with their peers. Studying from home is not the same, but as parents, I think we do what we can to help our children succeed,” she said.

About a thousand students registered for Southside ISD’s summer school. Those who complete the Cardinal Academy Summer Blast will receive a custom-made t-shirt, a goodie bag, and a gift certificate to honor their summer school accomplishment.  

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