This window washer needs to have specific tools for this job, be an expert in a potentially dangerous craft, with a big focus on safety.  Preparing for the return of school this summer feels kind of similar to this job at times.  I am so proud of the Wylie ISD educators currently designing a school learning environment that will keep everyone healthy and safe for students planning to return to school in person and create a world-class virtual learning environment for those who need to stay home.

5,000 – 10,000 – 70%

Thanks for your feedback from last week’s request for your preferences regarding how you would prefer to attend school this fall. Nearly five thousand families representing some ten-thousand students responded. As you remember, families were provided to options to consider:

Based on your feedback, nearly seventy percent of our students plan to return in person on August 13.

Recess, Lunch, and P.P.E. 

We also appreciate your questions and ideas from the blog too. Parents were curious to know if students would eat lunch in the cafeteria and participate in recess. Our current plans are to conduct both lunch and recess in a traditional way. However, as we have learned, everything is subject to change as information is provided by the county, state, and federal authorities if environmental conditions change. Campus and district leaders will meet on July 13 to determine any requirements for educators and students to wear personal protective equipment like masks. Thanks for your patience as we spend a little extra time reviewing this very important topic. 

Health Checks, Water Bottles, & Hand Sanitizer

We will need your help keeping our students healthy and safe when they return in the fall. Your cooperation and support is critical to prevent the potential spread of any virus.

Daily Health Screenings

We are asking parents to help us by conducting daily health screenings before students come to school each day.

Personal Water Bottles

Wylie ISD will install water bottle fillers at every campus to prevent potential viruses spread from students using water fountains.  We are asking families to supply students with a water bottle they will use at school each day.

Hand Sanitizer

Wylie ISD will have hand sanitizer at each campus. However, we are asking students to bring their own hand sanitizer to supplement our supply of this product.

Timelines and Future Requests for Input

As we mentioned in our last blog, we will continue to follow the timeline originally provided on June 16 to prepare for the start of school.  

We plan to ask families to provide feedback regarding their intent to either send their students to school in person or prefer remote learning. You can expect the next survey the week of July 13. This will not be a binding commitment but is an important planning tool as we prepare for the best education for your child. A final parent survey will be conducted on July 30 that will serve as the plan you will choose for your child when students begin school on August 13.

We appreciate and value your feedback, care, concerns, and patience as we move at the speed of safety in preparation for August 13.

The Waiting Game

The speed of change during the COVID 19 Crisis has grown our patience and gratitude for the leaders guiding the Texas Education Agency as well as our Collin County and state health officials. They are faced with very big decisions that seem to change on a dime. We currently have proposed solutions to many questions required to launch the school year on August 13. Thanks for your patience as we wait for these officials to rule on health and safety standards as well as curriculum standards.

Coming Soon: Back to School Website

We are creating a “2020-21 Back to School” website we will update regularly that will answer your most frequently asked questions, provide timelines, and back to school details. When county and state officials make final decisions, we will post that information to this website.

As quickly as our plans are required to change, based on the status of COVID 19, it is important to remember that a disclaimer like this will be a part of our plan for now and the foreseeable future.

PLEASE NOTE: The details on this page are subject to change as directives are provided by governing authorities and/or health officials or as environmental conditions change. Please check back for the latest accurate information.

The plans we are organizing today may require massive revision if something changes. Rest easy, Wylie ISD administrators and school board are not only finalizing the plans we are discussing today, but are diligently researching and planning for alternative options based on the potential progression of COVID 19. As always, thank you for your feedback, grace, and patience as we finalize our plans with a focus on safety, the Wylie Way!