2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
FAQ Document
Guidance from TEA will be followed by Borger ISD as we plan for and implement the reopening of school for the 2020-2021 school year. This guidance changes often, and we will seek to provide updated information as we get it. Please check this document often for updates.
A survey is also provided on our website. Please complete as soon as you are able. This will help us make plans.
If you have any questions, please email your question to: info@borgerisd.net The district will respond via email, or by phone if you provide a phone number.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate these new circumstances.
- How will Borger ISD reopen school this fall for the 2020-2021 school year?
Borger ISD plans to reopen to provide face-to-face instruction beginning on August 17, 2020. Remote options will also be available. This will not be the same type of remote instruction provided during the Spring School Closure. Please see #4 below.
- What additional safety measures will the district have in place in response to COVID-19?
The district plans to:
- Increase cleaning in all school areas
- Regularly sanitize classrooms, buses, gyms, bathrooms, and other public areas throughout the school day as well as during regular cleaning
- Provide face masks, hand sanitizers, and gloves if needed
- Measure temperatures daily before students, staff and visitors enter the buildings, and as students board the school bus
- Will my child be required to wear a mask at school?
No, however, disposable masks will be available if your child needs or would like to wear one.
- What if I, as the parent or guardian, do not wish my child to receive face-to-face instruction this year because of my concerns regarding COVID-19?
Parents will have some choices. As we develop these, we will update this document. As of now, the plans are:
- Face-Face instruction as provided normally, following TEA Guidelines
- Remote Synchronous Instruction for grades 3-12
- Two-way, real-time/live, virtual instruction between teachers and students when students are not on campus.In this method, the required amount of instructional time is scheduled each day.The instruction is provided through a computer or other electronic device or over the phone.Instruction will address the required curriculum per TEC 28.002.
- Virtual Attendance daily will be required.
- Remote Asynchronous Instruction for grades PK-2 and as necessary for grades 3-12.
- Instruction that does not require having the instructor and student engaged at the same time.In this method, students learn from instruction that is not necessarily being delivered in-person or in real-time.This may include various forms of digital and online learning, such as prerecorded video lessons, or game-based learning tasks that students complete on their own, and pre-assigned work and formative assessments made available to students on paper.The instructional method will address the required curriculum, per TEC 28.002.
- Will packets be available for instruction if we do not have access to a device or internet?
No, packets will not be considered instruction as we move into the 2020-2021 school year. The district has posted a Parent Survey to assess the needs of some of our families. We will communicate more about those things as we get more information.
- Will at-home parent instruction count towards our instructional minute requirements as part of the remote synchronous instruction method?
No, at-home, parent-led instructional time will not count towards overall minute requirements under the remote synchronous instruction method. Under the remote synchronous instruction method, two-way, real-time, face-to-face, or virtual remote interaction between teachers and students is required to meet the instructional minute requirements. This may also include student-to-student sessions if supervised by a teacher who is facilitating the session live.
- Under the remote asynchronous instructional method, if a student fails to complete Monday’s measure of engagement on Monday but completes the assignment later in the week, can the student’s attendance coding be changed to remote asynchronous present for Monday?
No. In the remote asynchronous instructional method, student engagement is measured daily, and attendance is assigned based on the student’s completion of that day’s engagement measure. Students who do not complete the daily measure of engagement are to be counted absent for that day, and that absence cannot be changed to remote asynchronous present if the student completes the engagement measure on a later date. In the example above, the student would be counted absent on Monday.
- Under the remote asynchronous instructional method, if a student decides to complete the entire week’s worth of work on Monday, can the student’s attendance be coded to show perfect attendance for the week?
No. In the remote asynchronous instructional method, student engagement is measured daily, and attendance is assigned based on the student’s completion of that day’s engagement measure. Students who do not complete the daily measure of engagement are 9 to be counted absent for that day, and that absence cannot be changed to remote asynchronous present if the student completes the engagement measure on a later date. In the example above, the student would be counted absent Tuesday-Friday
- Will the 90/10 minimum student attendance for class credit rule be in effect for the 2020– 2021 school year?
Yes. The minimum attendance for class credit rule of TEC, §25.092, will be in effect for the 2020–2021 school year, and TEA will not be issuing waivers for LEAs to exempt themselves from the rule. Students are required to attend at least 90% of their classes (with some exceptions) to receive credit and be promoted. Remote attendance will count in the same manner as on-campus attendance in satisfying this requirement.
- Will truancy laws be in effect during the 2020–2021 school year for students receiving remote instruction due to COVID-19 related closure or health concerns?
Truancy laws will apply to students who fail to attend school, but remote attendance satisfies attendance requirements.
Back to School 2020 Parent Survey
Back to School Parent Survey Spanish Version
Summer School and Summer Extracurricular Procedures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
Teacher and staff training on proper protocol for infection control during COVID-19 before summer school started
Less than 10 students in each classroom
Doing screening for symptoms and meeting kids at the car and taking temps before they get out in the morning
Using hand sanitizer before entering the building and many times throughout the day
Daily handwashing lessons on proper techniques and washing quite often through the day
Teachers are switching classes, instead of students
Social distancing in classrooms and when outside
Curbside drop off and pick up
Teaching proper hygiene when sneezing or coughing
Using dividers on desks
Desks 6 feet apart
Cleaning all workspaces before and after using them - both students and teachers
Thorough cleaning by custodial staff every day
Individual sets of manipulatives and classroom supplies, instead of shared sets
We are providing water bottles, instead of drinking out of a shared fountain
Pre-K and K are playing at separate assigned play areas to cut down on shared germs
Older students are not using the play areas since they are only on campus half of the day
Staggered breakfast and lunch pick up from the cafeteria to reduce exposure to other classes
No gathering outside of classrooms
Eating in the classroom, instead of the shared cafeteria space
Offering masks to students, staff, and visitors
Screening anyone that enters the building
No busses were offered for summer school. Parents are providing transportation.
We have a plan of action in place in case of a positive case at Summer School.
BEAST CAMP
Students fill out a questionnaire online that is daily with COVID questions. Temperatures of each student as well as coaches that are working the students out are taken daily. We are practicing social distancing in the weight room and outside. The weight facility and restrooms are sanitized between each session. Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes are readily available for the student’s use. In the gym, we are following the guidelines given by the UIL which limits the size of groups that can work together.
