Hand washing

Students and staff will be regularly reminded about the importance of proper handwashing. Teachers may allow for more breaks to give students the opportunity to wash their hands, either at a classroom sink or in a restroom.

In addition, we will place hand sanitizer units throughout our buildings and on our buses. Students and staff will be encouraged to use hand sanitizer regularly.

Masks and PPE

Face masks are an important part of employee and student protection, as well as personal hygiene, social distancing, and frequent cleaning efforts. Schools are required to comply with the governor’s executive order regarding the wearing of masks. Currently, the governor's executive order is required for 10 years old and older.

Does not apply to the following:

1. any person younger than 10 years of age;

2. any person with a medical condition or disability that prevents wearing a face covering;

3. any person while the person is consuming food or drink or is seated at a restaurant to eat or drink;

4. any person while the person is exercising outdoors or engaging in physical activity outdoors, and maintaining a safe distance from other people not in the same household.

5. any person while the person is driving alone or with passengers who are part of the same household as the driver;

6. any person obtaining a service that requires temporary removal of the face covering for security surveillance, screening, or a need for specific access to the face, such as while visiting a bank or while obtaining a personal care service involving the face,

7. any person while the person is in a swimming pool, lake, or similar body of water;

8. any person who is voting, assisting a voter, serving as a poli watcher, or actively administering an election, but wearing a face covering is strongly encouraged;

9. any person who is actively providing or obtaining access to religious worship, but wearing a face covering is strongly encouraged;

10. any person while the person is giving a speech for a broadcast or to an audience; or

11. any person in a county (a) that meets the requisite criteria promulgated by the Texas Division of Emergency Mgmt., and whose county judge has affirmatively opted-out of this face covering requirement by filing with the TDEM the required face covering attestation form- however, wearing a face covering is highly recommended.

It may be impractical for students to wear masks or face shields while participating in some non-UIL athletic or other extracurricular activities. When it is impractical for students to wear masks or face shields during those activities, schools must require students, teachers, staff, and visitors to wear masks or face shields when entering and exiting facilities and practice areas and when not actively engaging in those activities. Schools may, for example, allow students who are actively exercising to remove masks or face shields, as long as they maintain at least six feet of distance from other students, teachers, and staff who are not wearing masks or face shields. However, schools must require students, teachers, and staff to wear masks or face shields as they arrange themselves in positions that will allow them to maintain safe distancing.

Athletics & Extracurricular Activities

At this time, we plan to offer athletics and extracurricular activities in the fall semester. However, activities, practices, and schedules may need to be modified to ensure students remain physically distanced and can maintain proper hygiene. Each activity will look a little different, and coaches and advisors will be able to provide you and your students with more information. Students attending instruction on campus will also have the ability to participate in extracurricular activities.

Facilities

All HISD ISD buildings are closed to outside rentals during this time.

Drinking Fountains

We are discouraging students from using the drinking fountains. Instead, we recommend that all students bring water bottles to school so that they can refill them. Students should not share water bottles with others.

Busing & Transportation

Bus drivers or custodial staff must disinfect the buses at a minimum:

1. Right before starting a route to pick up students

2. Right after the morning and afternoon routes

Bus drivers must not report to work if they suspect they are sick or if they have symptoms such as fever or difficulty breathing, or have been in contact with other people who have any confirmed respiratory illness or disease the last 7 days. HISD will place hand sanitizer at the entry of all buses. When possible, windows will be opened to allow outside air to circulate the bus. Parents are encouraged to drop students off, carpool, or walk their student to school to reduce possible virus exposure on buses. ASSIGNED SEATING WILL BE IN PLACE.

Cleaning & Disinfecting

Our custodial staff will significantly increase the wiping down and disinfecting of public spaces and high-touch surfaces across our buildings and throughout the school day. We will also provide greater access to cleaning materials for our teachers and staff so that they can clean and disinfect spaces, as needed.

Technology Access

Due to the possibility that students will need to engage in remote or online learning at some point in the school year, the district will provide devices for students who do not have reliable access to a computer at home. The parent/student is financially responsible for negligent damages to the device. The dollar amount will be the cost of the parts needed to repair the device or replace the device.

We also know that not all families have reliable internet access at home. The district is exploring options for securing Wi-Fi hotspots for some of our students to ensure they have the tools they need to learn remotely.