Burnet Consolidated ISD schools are expected to reopen for face-to-face instruction this fall with “minimum restrictions” after an announcement by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last week.
Abbott’s sentiments were echoed by Education Commissioner Mike Morath, who said, “It will be safe for Texas public school students, teachers, and staff to return to school campuses for in-person instruction this fall, but there will also be flexibility for families with health concerns so that their children can be educated remotely, if the parent so chooses.”
Burnet CISD Superintendent Keith McBurnett said school districts had not yet been provided “concrete guidance” about “what the rules would be for schools reopening in the fall.” Details were expected from the Texas Education Agency on Tuesday, June 23.
“Some of the guidelines are expected to be required, while others will be recommended best practices,” McBurnett said. “Once we have the guidelines in hand, and with results from the Burnet CISD COVID-19 Stakeholder Survey, the administration is committed to formulating a plan for the fall that makes sense for Burnet CISD with a strong emphasis on the health, safety, and well-being of our staff and students.
“The plan will address the physical and emotional well-being of students and staff in all areas of operations, including transportation, child nutrition, and extracurricular activity. The plan will also focus on high levels of academic achievement, while also planning for the digital divide among students and the challenges associated with distance learning.”
McBurnett said the administration is “committed to finalizing the plan as soon as possible, and communicating the plan fully to staff, students, parents, and the community once it is finalized.
“Even with the projected challenges of COVID-19 for the 2020-2021 school year, we are committed to keeping our promise of Crafting the Future for our students,” he said. “We will share more details of our Return to School Plan in the weeks ahead so your family can make informed decisions.”
