Como-Pickton CISD To Be Closed Until At Least April 10
Meals Available For Children, Prom Cancelled, Graduation Still On
Como-Pickton CISD Thursday afternoon made several announcements Thursday afternoon, including extending closure of schools to April 10, the availability of meals for children, prom, high school and eighth grade graduations.
School Closure, Instruction
Due to the ever increasing spread of COVID-19 in Texas, the closure of Como-Pickton schools has now been extended beyond the initial March date. CP schools will remain closed through April 10. April 13 is eyed as a possible restart date, but that will depend on the cornonavirus situation at that time, according to Dr. Greg Bower, CPCISD superintendent.
Teachers will begin contacting their students’ parents within the next few days to “determine the most effective way in which to deliver your child’s instruction,” Bower noted in a letter address to Como-Pickton students, parents and community Thursday. That may include online resources for some and hard-copy materials for others.
Any parent who has a new phone number, email or address is asked call 903-488-3671, to speak to someone at their child’s campus between 8 a.m. and noon Friday, March 20, to update their records. This will allow the school to effectively communicate with parents regarding their child’s instruction and instructional needs.
Meal Program
During the school closure, Como-Pickton CISD will offer lunch and breakfast for students starting Monday. A drive-up pick-up service will be available between 10:15 and 11:15 a.m., Monday through Friday, at the front entrance of the elementary school. All are to remain in their vehicles and wait to be served at the designated pick-up point.
In order for prepare the correct number of meals each day, families are asked to call our School Closure Student Meal Hotline, 903-488-8895, the day prior to picking the child’s meals. The hotline will be answered Friday for our Monday meal pick-up. Hotline hours will be from 8 to 11:30 am, Monday-Friday each week.
While all who are able are encouraged to participate in the pick-up process, the school realizes there are instances where that’s not possible.The district will deliver meals if it’s “impossible for you to make arrangements to pick them up, district “understandably very thing” delivery resources permitting. In these instances, the person who calls in for the child daily will need to make sure the call taker knows delivery is needed.
In delivery instances, meals will be brought to the driveway entrance, where the child will be located that day. Someone will be required to meet the delivery team member to accept the meal delivery, as delivery teams will not be leaving their vehicles.
Any further questions may be made to the Student Meal Hotline from 8-11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, or may be emailed to the child’s campus principal.
Graduations
At this time, both the high school and 8th grade graduations are still on the school calendar. However, as is the case with all things, especially school-related activities, all scheduling will depend on the COVID-19 situation.
“It is my intention that Como-Pickton will hold a high school graduation ceremony. As of right now, that ceremony is still scheduled for May 22nd. If in the event that we are unable to hold a gathering still at that date, I intend on pushing our graduation ceremony to the earliest possible date for us to have it. As I know more, I promise to keep each of you informed,” school administrators stated in a Facebook post Thursday afternoon.
The 8th grade graduation is still scheduled, if CPCISD is able to gather during its scheduled time. If we are not, CP will forgo the 8th grade ceremonies. The traditional 8th grade dance will not be held, even if graduation is. If held, the dress code will be a casual dress code of jeans.
Prom
After much deliberation, CP officials opted to cancel the prom this year. Below is what CPCISD officials stated in a Frequently Asked Questions post regarding the matter:
Eagle students, one of the most difficult decisions that we have had to make regarding this troubling time is whether or not to cancel prom. We have been postponing that decision in hopes that everything will be ok and back to normal in a week or two. It appears that will not be the case. If we cancel prom, then we run the risk of parents who have bought expensive dresses already to have no occasion for their child to wear the dress. If we postpone cancelling prom, then we run the risk of even more parents doing the same thing all the while knowing that we will probably have to cancel. At this point, and as much as we hate to do it, we are making the decision to cancel our prom this year.
Pizza Inn in Sulphur Springs is Ready to Deliver
Joe Crouch told KSST that his Pizza Inn team is ready to deliver the full menu to Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. Pizza Inn has trained delivery drivers ready to go.
Although inside dining may be temporarily banned by the State Of Texas, Pizza Inn’s staff is geared up for increased delivery demand.
“We have solid safety and cleanliness practices already in place, but we have increased some of the more critical sanitizing tasks as an extra precaution.” said Crouch. Joe is particularly attune to health and safely issues. Joe takes a medication that reduces his ability to fight illness. Crouch can no longer go into his own restaurant; his physician advised him to “Cover in place”.
Customers can reach Pizza Inn of Sulphur Springs by calling 903 885 1549 or click here for their website.
UIL Suspends All Activities Until May 4
The University Interscholastic League on the official UIL Facebook page has just announced that all UIL activities will continue to be suspended until May 4 due to COVID-19. That means no practices, contests, rehearsals and workouts until at least May 4, potentially longer, depending on the situation regarding COVID-19.
Governor Abbott Shuts Down All Gyms, Bars, And Restaurant Dining Rooms In State
A statewide declaration goes into effect at midnight tomorrow (March 20th, 2020) and will be re-evaluated April 3rd. The declaration calls for restaurant dining rooms to be closed to the public and those restaurants to offer drive-thru or curbside pick-up only. Also gyms will be closed for this two week period.
This is the first public health disaster issued in Texas in more than 100 years. This will give the state and local officials the tools and resources they need to combat coronavirus. The order also closes all Texas schools until April 3rd. The governor noted that, “this is not a shelter in place.” But stated that it is essential that all Americans comply with the CDC standards.
The order begins on Friday March 20th and will end on April 3rd. It will be evaluated at that time.
SSISD Parents Will Receive Emails Monday About Distance Learning Plan
2020 Graduation, Honors Breakfast, Prom, 8th Grade Banquet Still On SSISD Calendar, Could Be Rescheduled Depending On COVID-19 Situation
While normal district operations at Sulphur Springs ISD suspended through April 10 due to COVID-19, that doesn’t meal student’s won’t be required to do school work. Beginning Monday, SSISD students’ parents and guardians will receive information regarding how distance learning, and how these online classes will impact their students.
Wednesday evening, SSISD trustees during an emergency meeting passed a resolution for wage payments for SSISD employees during emergency school closing for the period of closure associated with the District’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.during the extended closure. The decision to keep campuses closed through April 10 was also announced.
This week, Sulphur Springs ISD has been preparing its Distance Learning Program, which will provide continued instruction for students during the extended absence from campuses. Teachers are now preparing instruction for their classes. On Monday, March 23, parents will receive an email with instructions for how to access classes for distance learning.
With the constantly changing situation regarding COVID-19, local school officials will continue to monitor the situations during the week, and plan to use the week of April 6 to make any decisions on whether there is a need to extend the suspension of classroom learning further. If there is a need to continue the suspension at that time, it would likely be for at least 2 more weeks beyond April 13, according to SSISD administrators.
All UIL activities and practices will continue to be suspended through March 29. School officials anticipate an update from UIL within the next few days whether that will be extended.
“Our 2020 Graduation, Honors Breakfast, Prom, and 8th Grade Banquet are on the calendar with the intention that we will host them as scheduled. If we are required to postpone any of these events, we will work to reschedule them throughout the summer or beyond,” SSISD administrators stated in their release Thursday afternoon.
Any district-wide updates and official reports for SSISD, including extended campus closures or distance learning, will be made on the school website and email. Families and students may use online link to ask questions in the provided form.
Plain & Fancy Remains Committed To It’s Customers
As Plain & Fancy celebrates it’s 23rd year of business this month, they continue their tradition of taking care of their customers even during these trying times. They have always offered delivery, but now offer curbside pick-up to their customers as well. Customers can stay in their car and the staff will bring the order out to your vehicle. Plain & Fancy still offers their full menu for pick-up or delivery. The staff and owners are diligent about hygiene, cleanliness, and sanitizing as they have always been. Plain & Fancy wants their customers to have that reassurance that they have always provided.
There will be a temporary change of hours at this time. The new hours are as follows:
Monday-Friday 9 am – 4 pm
Saturday 10 am – 4 pm
Customers can use the following two numbers for delivery or pick-up. CALL: 903-885-9225 or TEXT: 903-951-0288.
The owners know they have an extended family as their customer base, and they stated that, “together we will survive this!”
Saltillo ISD To Remain Closed Through April 3
Free Meals Offered For Children Ages 1-18 In Saltillo ISD Community
Saltillo ISD today via their official Facebook page announced school will remain closed until April 3, with all extracurricular activities and practices canceled as well, due to COVID-19 concerns. The district also will be implementing a meal program for all children in the Saltillo ISD community ages 1-18 starting Monday, March 23.
While Saltillo ISD is scheduled to remain closed until April 3, the SISD Board of Trustees will meet April 2, to reevaluate the situation to determine whether classes will resume at the school campus. Updates regarding Saltillo ISD will continue to be made via the school app, Facebook, and the school phone messaging system.
Saltillo ISD will also provide a daily breakfast/lunch combo to those who want to participate. The side awning will be used as a drive-thru meal pick up location. Those who are unable to pick up meals may call the school to try to assist families. Any child between ages 1-18 years, who resides in the Saltillo community, is eligible for free meals.
Parents may make a request for meals for each of their children daily by emailing [email protected] or [email protected], calling 903-537-2386 or texting 903-951-8552. Parents are asked to make the request each day between 7:30 and 9 a.m. for their children. While not required, this will help the Saltillo iSD child nutrition department better plan each day.
Meal pick up will be 9-11 a.m. beginning Monday, March 23.
“Your child MUST be with you to receive a meal. State law mandates that the child/children are present during meal pick-ups. The Texas Education Agency has asked for a waiver for this requirement, however, it had not been approved as of March 18, 2020. If this changes we will let you know,” SISD stated in their announcement for the meal program.
The district Facebook page due have an option for people to contact Saltillo ISD officials via messenger.
Cumby ISD Out Until April 10
Cumby ISD Superintendent Shelly Slaughter Thursday morning reported the district, following reports from health and other officials regarding COVID-19 spread and concerns, will be extending suspension of regular operations through April 10. That means no classes at the Cumby ISD campus through that date, but doesn’t mean students won’t be required to do school work during that time.
The district will continue to monitor the situation and anticipates another update via the school website and school callout system for the community on Monday, March 30.
The situation regarding COVID-19 is rapidly changing. The week of April 3, CISD officials and other school officials throughout the county will work together and decisions will be made that week regarding school operations after the April 10 regular suspension of operations date.
Students should plan to return to school on Monday, April 13, originally scheduled as a bad weather holiday or make up day. Teachers will be contacting parents Thursday regarding the district’s plan for online instruction and school meal delivery, which will begin on Monday.
To register school meals, families are asked to complete the school lunch county survey on the school website.
“If there is a need to continue the suspension at that time, it would likely be for at least 3 more weeks beyond April 13th,” Slaughter stated in a news release Thursday.
Hopkins County Emergency Management Update: Still No Positive Coronavirus Cases
March 19th, 2020
In a scheduled teleconference this morning, the Hopkins County Emergency Management team updated KSST News on conditions of the newly mandated crowd limits and COVID-19 concerns. As of 11:15am, NO new positive test results have been returned on local citizens. The team reiterated the need for social distancing and the restrictions on social gatherings to no more than ten people.
Judge Newsom shared that his experience was that restaurants that were keeping their dining rooms open were adapting to the social distancing guidelines effectively. Other businesses are encouraging social distancing for their customers. It is also up to the public to practice these measures and avoid situations of exposure.
One of the toughest restrictions has come as funerals fall under the group size mandate. The county realizes this hardship for families, and encourages memorial services in the future. The protection of the health of all of our citizens is the main concern in this trying time.
Judge Newsom anticipates for this declaration to stay in effect for several weeks or more, although it is up to the County Commissioners to review the status each week, and decide whether to loosen or tighten restrictions.
Dan Flynn Updates Constituents On State Decisions On COVID-19
In a letter received by KSST News, Representative Dan Flynn updates his constituents on the latest information from the governor’s office concerning COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
