San Augustine ISD students will be doing remote learning during the first four weeks of the 2020-21 school year starting on Aug. 17.
“We [discovered] COVID-19 in our student body, so that’s why we made the decision last week and go ahead and do virtual for the first four weeks,” San Augustine ISD Superintendent Dr. Virginia Liepman said.
Under the Texas Education Agency’s COVID-19 guidance for safely reopening, schools can start fully virtual for the first four weeks if needed.
“Because if you start school and then stop after a couple of days, then that transition period they allow you is off the table,” Liepman said.
Before this decision, Liepman said they had about 300 of our 760 signed up students for virtual learning. The district had 600 chromebooks for students before school shut down in the spring.
“We still have those Chromebooks and we’ve purchased 300 extra Chromebooks for our little ones; our Pre-K through second graders,” she said. “And those Chromebooks have the touchscreens so the students won’t have go in and sign in. So every student in our district and every teacher will have a computer.” (Liepman)
Merrideth Fussell teaches eighth grade English at the district. She also has two children who attend.
“I’m a little apprehensive about it mostly because I wanted my kids to go face-to-face,” Fussell said. “I feel like that’s the better option for everybody. But I understand safety is a concern. I know our district will do everything it possibly can to make sure our kids are getting what they need even in a virtual setting.”
Liepman said she understands parents’ frustrations like having to find childcare while they work.
“I hope they know we feel what they’re feeling, and we’re going to do the best we can to get these kids back,” she said. “We just have to do what’s safe for our kids and our community.”
As of now, opting for full virtual learning does not affect athletic or extracurricular activities that fall under the UIL’s guidelines.
“They’re still practicing football, and those types of things with the same CDC and TEA guidelines, as far as the face masks and the staying apart, so that is still going forward,” Liepman said. “If we have kiddos that get sick or that type of thing, that’s going to change the way that looks.”
She says the district will reassess in the coming weeks if they can start to transition back to a hybrid mode of learning with in-person instruction and a virtual learning option if parents choose that.
“As a teacher and parent, I know how hard we are working to get what’s needed to as far as lessons, concepts, instructions,” parent and SA ISD eighth grade math teacher Jesica Herrera said. “I feel comfortable that we are going to make this work.”
“We’re hoping soon to come back because kids need to be at school,” Liepman said. “I mean, the school offers so many services to children; food service, out special needs services, social/emotional services, counseling services. We need to get our kids back because they do better when we are with them and when they are here with us.”
High School registration and technology pickup is August 11th - August 14th, from 8 - 3:30 and Friday from 8 - 12 in the High School Auditorium. Lunch will be taken each day from 12 - 1. Registration forms MUST BE completed prior to pickup. Please contact Mr. Perkins if you have questions.
Middle School registration, schedules and technology pickup is August 11th - August 14th, from 8 - 3:30 and Friday from 8 - 12 at front entrance of the MS/HS building. Lunch will be taken each day from 12 - 1. Registration Forms will be handed out and you must complete entire packet before students receive materials, technology and schedules. Please contact Mrs. Holloway if you have any questions.
Elementary Virtual technology pass out will be Thursday and Friday, August 13th & 14th from 8:00 - 4:00 in the back of the school.
Phone number: (936) 275-2306.