KISD releases safety videos in preparation for Sept. return to campuses

By R. Hans Miller | News Editor
Posted 8/17/20

To help families prepare for in-person instruction set to begin Sept. 8, Katy ISD has released seven safety demonstration videos for families to review prior to a return to campus. The new videos …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

KISD releases safety videos in preparation for Sept. return to campuses

Posted

To help families prepare for in-person instruction set to begin Sept. 8, Katy ISD has released seven safety demonstration videos for families to review prior to a return to campus. The new videos highlight practices the district has put in place to ensure Texas Education Agency and health officials’ guidelines are followed on campus.

“Following established classroom safety practices is essential to protecting the health and well-being of our Katy ISD learners, staff and families,” said KISD Emergency Management Coordinator Ruben Martinez. “The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect people of all ages and backgrounds.”

 The videos highlight basic practices put in place for district students in classrooms and on buses. Children in Pre-K through third grade are highly encouraged to wear masks. All students Kindergarten-age and above must wear a mask while riding school buses, and students in grades four and above must wear a mask at all times while on campus, except when eating.

When entering and exiting buses, passengers will be asked to sanitize their hands, according to the videos. While in transit, students will be required to sit no more than two to a seat and keep their hands on their laps to prevent the spread of germs. KISD custodial staff will sanitize the bus with machines that release a sanitizing solution in a mist to kill germs on the buses. Students will be asked to distance themselves boarding and unloading the vehicles.

As they enter classrooms, students will again be asked to sanitize their hands and to pick up a sanitizing wipe as they enter the classroom. Once the wipe is obtained, they will be asked to wipe down their desks or workstations.

KISD staff will then ask students if they have done a prescreening prior to coming to school by asking the class if they have experienced symptoms and other relevant questions. Students that say they have had symptoms will be immediately referred to the campus’ school nurse.

Desks will be spread out in order to facilitate social distancing in the classroom. Learners will be provided a sanitizing wipe at the end of the class period or school day in order to clean their workspace before leaving. A teacher will collect the wipes in a trash container once that is completed.

In cafeterias, students will be spaced out with an empty seat between them and whomever is eating at their table. Additionally, food will be served on disposable trays that are discarded at the end of the meal period. Students will need to wear their masks while not eating or drinking. Parents are encouraged to pay for meals online so that students may pay for their meals through touchless transactions rather than exchanging currency which can facilitate the spread of germs.

According to the videos, at the end of the day, each campus will be sanitized using misters, sanitizing products and extra efforts to ensure campuses are sanitary.

To view the videos, parents and students can visit: http://www.katyisd.org/returntoschool/Pages/School-Safety-Demonstration-Videos.aspx

Virtual instruction begins Aug. 19, KISD students will not return to campuses until Sept. 8. About half of KISD’s 84,000 students will be returning to classrooms in September, according to the district. School officials have stated that they want to prepare students to be safe in classrooms and the videos are one tool to prepare students to return to classrooms safely.

“While it is not possible to eliminate all risks associated with the virus, by working together we can keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible,” Martinez said.

Katy ISD, COVID-19,