Beginning April 12 – Masks will be optional for elementary school students during outdoor recess activities. Student group meetings, such as student councils, along with student safety patrols can resume. Masks and social distancing will be required for the indoor student group meetings, and students participating in the outdoor safety patrol activities will be required to wear masks.

Beginning in April and May – Kindergarten, fifth grade and eighth grade graduation ceremonies will be allowed as virtual or outdoors events, limited to one to two classes at a time. Two to four family members and guests will be allowed to attend the outdoor events, depending on the space available at the campus, and masks will be required for all participants and guests.

Beginning in April and May – Traditional activities such as award ceremonies and talent shows may resume as virtual or outdoors events with masks required.

Beginning in April and May – Eighth grade dances may be held outdoors only with masks required. Senior walks, in which graduating seniors visit elementary students to stress the importance of staying in school and graduating, may also resume as outdoor events only with masks required.

May 3-7 – For teacher appreciation week, up to 10 volunteers may be selected to help at a time at each campus with masks required.

May 17-31 – Field day events may be held outdoors only. Up to 10 volunteers may be selected to help at a time. Masks will be optional for children competing in the events; adult staff and volunteers will be required to wear masks.

• Health Screener: Every SBISD student attending in-person is required to have a completed daily health screener PRIOR to boarding a school bus or being dropped off at school.

• High school students may complete their own screener. Middle and Elementary school screeners must be completed by a parent or guardian. The health screener can be accessed here.

• Parents, it is critical that you report to your child's school if your child has tested positive or has had prolonged (15 or more minutes) direct exposure to someone who is COVID-19 positive or displaying symptoms of COVID-19. Please complete the health screener and report to your school attendance office or nurse immediately. Please be sure to provide your contact information including a daytime telephone number where you can be reached.

We’re happy to announce that all SBISD students will be able to enjoy school meals at no cost for the rest of the 2020-2021 school year due to the extension of the no-cost meals program by USDA. If you have any questions, please contact the Child Nutrition Services office.

In-person students will no longer be required to present a district ID badge when receiving breakfast or lunch.

This will help reduce burden on the campus by allowing students to quickly return to their designated eating areas to consume meals.

It also eliminates the need for the exchange of cash, which will further lessen the time through the serving lines.

We will not be able to accept food deliveries for students. Students may eat lunch from the cafeteria or bring a sack lunch from home but may not have meals delivered to them at school. 

If a student forgets their lunch at home, a lunch will be provided to them from the school cafeteria. 

SBISD has activated our automated call-out system for students marked absent during the school day. These callouts occur for any student marked absent whether they are in-person or distance learners. Elementary school callouts are in the morning, while middle and high school are in the afternoon.

If you receive a call and have questions about your child’s attendance, please contact your child’s school. In order for an absence to be counted as excused, parents must drop off or email a note documenting the reason for the absence to the school’s attendance office within three days.

For families that have chosen the in-person learning model, attendance is critical: in-person attendees cannot switch to virtual learning temporarily for family convenience, such as to travel out of town. If you have any specific questions about attendance, please contact your child’s campus.

Face masks or coverings are  required for all staff and students and must be worn:

• Properly over the nose and mouth and when physical distancing is not possible or practical. 

• In the classroom, during passing periods and in common spaces-e.g. restrooms, hallways, library, cafeteria, gym, meeting rooms, offices, after school, etc. 

• On the bus at all times. 

• Gaiters are an allowable face covering and must be worn appropriately over the nose and mouth.   

• Masks and face coverings shall be free of any images, words, political slogans, with the exception of the a SBISD school or district logo or college logo.

*Note:  Masks with one-way exhalation valves or vents are not allowed. Failure to wear a mask is considered a health hazard and may result  in disciplinary consequences. 

(Updated 08/30/2020)

• According to the Texas Education Agency, full- face shields may be used in place of a mask to protect eyes, nose, and mouth whenever a mask is not feasible or whenever the education context may benefit from the ability to see an individual’s full face.  School systems may require the use of masks or face shields for adults or students for whom it is developmentally appropriate. 

• Teachers may distribute face shields to students, if needed, to facilitate clear communication for in-person instruction.  Students would only be allowed to wear them while seated at their desk, during instruction.  If the student needs to move about the room, the mask or face covering must be put on again before getting up from their desk.   

• A note from a health care provider is required if a student or employee has a health condition that inhibits them from wearing a face covering/mask or due to a religious practice that would require otherwise.

• A parent/guardian shall complete the mask accommodation form for students and provide a physician’s note to the nurse.  If the accommodation is approved the student shall be required to wear a face shield when physically possible.

• Employees shall request an accommodation and submit an accommodation form through Human Resources. If the accommodation is approved, the employee shall be required to wear a face shield when physically possible.

For campuses that have larger percentages of students choosing in-person instruction, SBISD has developed a plan for additional supports.

These supports enable added frequency for cleaning high touch areas during the day and additional caring adults to help wherever needed on campus.

They include:

• Contracted custodial services. The district will add extra custodians at these campuses.

• Transportation staff/bus drivers. These caring staff members will be “Campus Buddies” assigned to these campuses during the mid-day hours when they are not driving routes They will assist students with social distancing, provide extra cleaning of high touch areas, and also will help out during lunch periods.

• Overtime support. SBISD will provide for district custodial staff members to work overtime as needed to support cleaning protocols.

We are excited to announce new SBISD grade level guides (PK-12) that have been developed by our Academics team to provide an overview of what your child will learn in school every nine weeks and resources to support their learning at home.

You will find strategies based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and SBISD priority standards to help you help your child meet his or her learning goals. Teams of SBISD teachers studied the TEKS and further identified the essential, or priority, standards necessary to master at each grade level.

These guides provide clear, consistent expectations for what SBISD students should be learning as we strive to prepare Every Child for his/her T-2-4 goals.

Access the grade level guides here.

The SBISD COVID-19 Dashboard provides a summary of active, test-confirmed COVID-19 cases involving SBISD students and staff members as reported to the District. Totals reflect those participating in any on-campus activity.

For more information associated with SBISD’s health and safety protocols regarding COVID-19, including isolation, quarantine, and reporting, please refer to the District’s LearnSBISD plan (beginning on page 83).

The dashboard can be found here or on the SBISD Health & Safety webpage by clicking the ‘Active COVID-19 Cases’ button. Data will be updated regularly based on reported information.

• Stagger the use of playground equipment in cohorted groups. 

• Masks and/or face coverings are required during recess.

• Limit the number of class groups on the playground and physical distance when and where feasible.

• Students and staff should wash hands and/or use hand sanitizer before entering and when exiting the playground.

All district facilities will be closed to nonessential visitors, parents, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations for the first semester.

Essential meetings will be conducted through virtual appointments or limited face-to-face visits.