Beaumont ISD leader shares information on COVID-19 as students prep for Spring Break

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  • Beaumont ISD superintendent urges safety as students leave for Spring Break.
    Beaumont ISD superintendent urges safety as students leave for Spring Break.
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Beaumont Independent School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shannon Allen announced March 13 that school is still set to resume on March 23 after Spring Break, but urged parents and students to stay alert for possible changes in the days to come that could result from the ongoing worldwide coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Dr. Allen released the following “Information Regarding Coronavirus” on March 31:

In regards to recent outbreaks of the coronavirus, I want to assure our BISD families that our district is keeping track of this situation and following guidance from proven and trustworthy sources including our city officials, the Beaumont Public Health Department, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, there are no confirmed cases of the Coronavirus at Beaumont ISD. Based on the current information at our disposal, classes are expected to resume March 23. Any changes as a result of new information will be immediately shared with staff and parents.

It is extremely important for our parents and staff to complete our spring break survey to provide us with information to help in our decision-making going forward. All information will be kept confidential: https://form.jotform.com/200716022970043.

Travel

The United States has confirmed cases of the coronavirus linked to individuals who have recently traveled. As we approach spring break and the Easter holiday, we are encouraging our families not to travel internationally during this break. All BISD families should take extra precautions when traveling and be cognizant of the guidelines provided by the CDC. If you choose to travel, it is possible that your students will need to be quarantined for 14 days upon returning home. Please understand that these decisions will be made given the discretion and direction of CDC and the Beaumont Health Department.

Disinfection and cleaning

The safety of our staff and students is our top priority, therefore BISD has put in place several preventative measures to stop the spread of any infectious diseases. The custodial department has been continuously using enhanced cleaning techniques and will be executing a deep sanitization using electrostatic machines over spring break on all campuses and buses. As a reminder, all school-related events, including sporting events and practices, will be suspended until further notice.

Campus visitation

In order to limit the amount of traffic through our campuses, we will be initiating a closed campus visitation policy effective March 23, 2020. We are asking that all campus visitors, including parents and volunteers, refrain from checking in to the schools until further notice. Parents will be allowed to pick up and drop off their child. Parent participation in ARD meetings will continue as usual, but may be subject to screening.

Other precautions

We are recommending that our families, students and staff take the same steps to protect against coronavirus as we take to prevent the spread of everyday illnesses, such as the common cold or the flu:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Stay home when you are sick.

Cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Alternately, you may cover your mouth with a tissue-covered hand, and then immediately discard the tissue in a trash receptacle.

Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces.

Please continue to stay connected through our call out system, mobile app and social media pages as we will be forthcoming with updates as we receive them. Despite these challenges that we are facing, we hope our students and staff are able to enjoy a restful spring break.

 

Thank you,

 

Dr. Shannon Allen

Superintendent of Schools