Dear SAISD Staff:
 
We received more specific guidance yesterday afternoon from the Texas Education Agency about re-opening schools for the 2020-2021 school year. The State has said that on-campus learning must be available to all parents who would like for their children to learn in school classrooms each day. We also will have the flexibility of providing fully remote learning for families who request that option.
 
At this point in time, we believe that a phased approach is best. This would entail smaller numbers of students and teachers on campus, with those numbers increasing over time depending on the environment. 
 
We will be talking with our families and staff as we develop plans, and, of course, we will honor parents’ wishes about whether they prefer their children to learn on campus or remotely. Our goal is to safely balance the state’s educational requirements with the health and safety of our students and staff.
 
We still are in the process of reviewing and gathering feedback from parents, students and teachers. Principals and department leaders also will be engaging staff in the next couple of weeks. Your input is critical to this process.
 
We have a comprehensive effort well underway to prepare for the start of a new school year, making crucial decisions about what school will look like and how our students will experience learning. Our planning includes the consideration of many complexities of daily school operations, academics, school safety protocols, student transportation, meal service, and much more, to ensure safe environments for everyone.
 
This situation is continually evolving, and we appreciate your patience as we analyze the recommendations and requirements we are receiving from the state and local governments, Metro Health and the CDC – as well as your feedback.

We will keep you updated as plans develop.

Sincerely,
Pedro