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.
Paris ISD is reporting three additional Covid-19 cases at Crockett Middle School along with a confirmed case at Aikin Elementary. Also on Sunday, Rivercrest ISD sent out an alert that a high school student tested Covid-19 positive.
Covid-19 infections continue at some Red River Valley schools while others remain free of the novel coronavirus.
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.
Rivercrest High School Homecoming Queen nominees include, from left, Micah Cannon, Rylie Huddleston, McKenzie Walton, & Payton Christophersen.
Rivercrest ISD is back in action after the first day of school on Friday. Students who chose in-person learning returned to schools with heightened cleaning protocols and teachers ready to welcome them back.
Though the tax rate will stay the same, thanks to higher appraisal values, Rivercrest ISD will see a little more money in the upcoming school year.
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 Rivercrest ISD trustees are set to approve both the 20-21 budget and tax rate.
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.
Rivercrest ISD will not require masks unless Red River County goes over 20 active cases when school starts on Aug. 28. The school board also set the tax rate at $1.2884 per $100 at Monday night’s meeting.
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.
The Rivercrest ISD board will review the proposed budget and tax rate for 2020-2021 at Monday night’s board meeting.
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 building projects total costs is $5.3 million, district financial director Tiffany Mabe said.
Rivercrest ISD students can expect to start school Aug. 28, according to the district’s website. District officials said the end of the school year will be May 27 and graduation is planned for May 28.
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.
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.
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