Spring Branch ISD Featured News

As you know, Spring Branch ISD’s spring break is next week. Many of our students have trips scheduled with their peers and families. Specifically, and in light of the current Covid-19 virus, SBISD is focused on two types of travel that include SBISD students: (1) non-district approved trips, and (2) district-approved trips.

The district has a practice of approving select student travel trips that enhance a student’s learning. Separately, our students may also travel with other students and potentially with District employees on trips that are not district-approved student trips.

This statement and decision only addresses district-approved student trips.

We have been closely monitoring federal, state, and local guidance regarding COVID-19, also known as Coronavirus.

As of today, March 10, 2020, and out of an abundance of caution until further notice, the district is revoking its approval of all domestic and international district-approved student trips.

Our decision to revoke SBISD’s approval of domestic and international student trips means that the district does not believe this kind of travel upholds the District’s priority of student safety in light of current and evolving Covid-19 situations here and abroad.

School leaders have been provided with the list of student trips affected by this decision. School leaders will communicate directly with staff and families scheduled to travel on these trips.

These trips have been paid for privately. Therefore, it is ultimately up to each parent or guardian to decide if their student will go on the planned trip or if they will choose not to send their child on the trip. The district assumes no responsibility for any financial loss that may be incurred as a result of our revocation of approval for such trips.

We continue to encourage all SBISD parents and students to comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html and Harris County Public Health http://publichealth.harriscountytx.gov/ guidance regarding travel.

Finally, please note that the district’s decision to revoke its approval of student travel does not currently (as of March 10, 2020) impact travel associated with UIL activities, and curricular activities as those terms are defined in our Student-Parent Handbook.

The District’s priority has always been and will continue to be the safety, health, and well-being of our students and staff.