Half of Port Arthur ISD’s 16 schools will remain virtual only for the rest of the semester due to recorded cases of the coronavirus on campus as well as possible exposures, the district announced Monday.
Letters began going home to parents at a growing number of schools starting last Thursday and continuing over the weekend, with coronavirus cases or possible exposures causing the transition online at Lucian Adams Elementary, Port Acres Elementary, Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Abraham Lincoln Middle School, Memorial 9th Grade Academy, Memorial High School, Career and Technology Education campus and Wilson Early College High School.
The notices sent to parents for all eight closures said the district has implemented its coronavirus response protocols and will “transition to virtual learning for all students.”
Students will have to complete their coursework online, and campus leadership will be available to assist parents and students during the week.
The closures come after a relatively low number of confirmed cases, according to numbers provided by the district, with the Adams Elementary School confirming the highest number in the district with four cases, and the Early College High School closing down due to a “possible exposure.”
“The level of stringency is matching the increasing number of positive cases in our community,” district spokesperson Kristyn Cathey told The Enterprise in an email. “As more people are mixing and mingling outside of their work and school, the cases and potential exposures are rising. Our district is taking proactive steps to ensure that we keep all of our students and staff safe.”
She added that each closure was based on specific circumstances.
Official numbers released by the city of Port Arthur showed there were 11 confirmed cases of infection last week among school-age children, and one who is no more than 4 years old.
Texas Education Agency guidelines updated last month allow for districts to close campuses and transition to online learning “to allow sufficient time to resolve the public health concerns while minimizing academic disruption,” adding that “campuses may only remain closed to on-campus instruction for up to five consecutive days (including the original closure) day, while drawing funding for all students participating in remote instruction.”
The guidelines only allow for closures in reaction to confirmed outbreaks, and not in anticipation of future ones.
Guidelines as they relate to closing campuses only allow for campus closures “because of a confirmed positive case COVID-19” meaning the district may be required to make up operational minutes for any days transitioned to virtual without a confirmed case on campus.
The district will be closed for the holidays beginning Friday until Jan. 4, the start of the third nine-week instructional period.
Students will return to the method of instruction chosen for the third nine-week grading period.
“While closed, the campus will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized,” the letters to parents said.
Another Southeast Texas School district, Evadale ISD, also has transitioned to online schooling for all campuses due to what Superintendent Gary Fairchild called an “outbreak of COVID-19 within the staff members within the district.”
That district will remain virtual until the holiday break, which begins Friday.
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