Following Guidance from TEA, Navarro ISD to Continue Face-Covering Requirement

3/9/2021

Following Guidance from TEA, Navarro ISD to Continue Face-Covering Requirement

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released updated Public Health Planning Guidance in response to the Governor’s Executive Order GA-34. Following TEA’s guidance, Navarro ISD will continue its current practice of requiring face coverings for all students, as well as all staff members.

The TEA guidance states, in part: “Schools must comply with the following requirements: Every student, teacher, or staff member shall wear a mask over the nose and mouth when inside a school building, school facility, facility used for school activities, or when in an outdoor space on school property or used for school activities, wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household”. This guidance also applies to any adult visitor on a campus or school facility for any event or activity. TEA guidance does state that “The governing board of a school system may modify or eliminate by formal action the above mask-related requirements.” Navarro ISD will continue the policy of wearing masks, social distancing and performing cleaning procedures as outlined in NISD’s “Return to School Plan” unless the school board decides to make changes.

Navarro ISD has experienced a relatively low number of positive COVID-19 cases this year, less than 2% of students, and we believe this correlates to the safety procedures that have been in place for the entirety of the school year. 

Additionally, the proper use of face coverings is a mitigating factor in determining the definition of “close contact” during contact tracing, per TEA guidelines. Therefore, it reduces the likelihood of having to quarantine large groups of students at one time. Navarro ISD is striving to provide a safe learning environment for all students and staff while also keeping our campuses open for the remainder of the year.

We wish all of our students, families, and staff a safe and restful Spring Break, and we look forward to finishing the school year on a positive note.

 

Wendi Russell

Superintendent