This year, Red River Valley school districts tried something they’d never done before: remote learning. But for many, it hasn’t seemed to be working.
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Covid-19 cases remain steady at Red River Valley schools while the number of cases reported in Lamar County surge with an additional 207 cases reported last week by the Paris/Lamar County Health District.
The number of students quarantined because of close contact at school with individuals testing positive for Covid-19 continues to climb.
The Honey Grove ISD School Board will get updates on remote learning and Covid-19 confirmations, as well as reports from campus principals for enrollment and activities at their Monday meeting.
Covid-19 infections continue at some Red River Valley schools while others remain free of the novel coronavirus.
Honey Grove Homecoming Queen Shelbea Clem, right, is accompanied by her father Scott Clem on the field at Friday’s homecoming game.
With the exception of Clarksville ISD and Detroit ISD, all schools in the Red River Valley are reporting at least one confirmed Covid-19 case among students and/or staff members.
As of Thursday, every district in the region, with the exception of Clarksville and Detroit, has at least one staff member or student out with the novel coronavirus. As of press time, it was not clear whether Rivercrest had reported a confirmed case.
Starting Sept. 8, Texas education officials will require all school districts to fill out forms weekly reporting new cases, including whether the infections occurred on or off campus and if the campus closed as a result.
The state is facing “a severe drop in revenue” as lawmakers look to fund state programs already in place, State Rep. Gary VanDeaver said Tuesday during a visit with the Kiwanis Club of Paris. Education remains a priority, he said.
Texas' low number of tests and large percentage of positive results suggest inadequacies in the state's public health surveillance effort at a time when school reopenings are certain to increase viral spread, health experts said.
Abbott’s decision to curb the role of local health authorities in school reopening decisions has added to the ongoing conflict between him and local governments during the pandemic, with mayors and judges voicing frustration over having their hands tied by the state’s response.
Abbott said local health authorities can't shut down in-person instruction before school has even started. He said an outbreak on campus once students have arrived could prompt a closure by health authorities.
The families of more than 20% of the 3.6 million eligible school children across the state have yet to apply for federal aid under the Pandemic EBT program.
Honey Grove ISD students will be welcomed back to school Sept. 2, and families in the district will have the option to choose between in-class and remote learning.
Paxton's guidance contradicts earlier information the Texas Education Agency gave school districts that said local health authorities had the power to delay or close schools to in-person instruction.
Gov. Greg Abbott said Monday that Texas students must take the state standardized test next spring, but fifth and eighth graders can graduate without passing it.
Facing backlash from educators, parents and public health officials, the Texas Education Agency is giving schools more time before they must resume teaching students in person, and allowing districts hard hit by the coronavirus to seek waivers.
Conflicting mandates pingponging between state and local officials are frustrating many parents, students and teachers trying to plan for a fall semester during a raging pandemic.
Amid cautions that all plans are subject to change, Honey Grove ISD Superintendent Todd Morrison addressed parent questions and clarifications regarding the opening rules for the school district.
School districts won't lose state funding if they stick with virtual classes this fall because a local health authority has mandated that classrooms remain closed.
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