SSISD COVID-19 Mitigation, Back to School Plans Now Available
Monday evening August 10th, 2020, Sulphur Springs ISD Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams Monday updated trustees on the SSISD COVID-19 mitigation plan. The plan is updated as new guidelines and requirements are announced at the state and national level.
The plan outlines prevention, response and mitigation. Staff will self screen and parents are to screen their children daily for COVID-19 symptom or potential COVID-19 exposure.
Visitation will be limited at this time. Parent will not be allowed to eat lunch at school with students. Parents will be allowed to drop off supplies and meals or consult with district staff as appropriate regarding their child’s educational and health needs. Campus visitors will be asked screening questions at the designated entrance prior to admittance to the campus.
Currently identified by health professionals such as the Centers for Disease Control as symptoms of possible COVID-19 infection are:
• Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.4 degrees
• Loss of taste or smell
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Shaking or exaggerated shivering
• Significant muscle pain or ache
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
If a SSISD student tests positive, exhibits symptoms or may be been exposed to COVID-19, parents are asked to keep their student at home and call the campus nurse to begin the process of determining the next appropriate steps related to their child and school. This includes when the student would be eligible to return to school.
In the event of a COVID-positive case on campus, the campus will take the following steps:
▪ All areas that are heavily used, by the individual with the lab-confirmed case, will be closed off until disinfected.
▪ All teachers, staff, and families of all students in that school will be notified.
▪ The local health department will be notified.
District administrators Monday evening told school board members that all students age 10 years and older will be required to wear a face covering or shield, unless the student meets the criteria for exception outlined by the Governor’s executive order.
If a student who does not meet the exception criteria is observed not wearing a mask as required, school staff will speak to the student in an effort to obtain compliance. Officials hope to be able obtain compliance with the state order without having to impose penalties as they would a dress code or discipline issue. In the event of continued refusal of students required to wear the mask who do not meet the exception, a parent may be called to assist. Students and families who do not wish for their student to wear masks and who do not maintain the requisite 6 feet from others do have the option for their students to attend Virtual Academy.
In addition to emphasizing to students the need for proper hand washing, social distancing where possible and wearing face mask, district staff will be encouraged to take lessons outside and to open classroom windows when possible.
The district has distributed approximately 700 gallons of hand sanitizer and more than 600 pumps in which to dispense it. Sanitizer will be available in all classrooms, offices and buses.
In addition to traditional cleaning and disinfecting of campuses, there will be supplemental disinfecting as well, including wiping down high contact areas four times a day, and cleaning restrooms more frequently throughout the day as well. All cleaners and disinfectants used will be CDC approved and recommended, Williams noted.
The district is applying a special microbial shield on surfaces every 30 days. The shield is supposed to be good for 90 days, but as an added precaution due to high use of facilities, the district plans to spray the shield monthly.
Kids and teachers will be able to wipe down desks daily with Clorox wipes. This is not supposed to damage the spray on shield.
The district also has obtained for student and staff use approximately 30,000 disposable face masks and 10,000 washable face masks. After surveying staff, 330 face fields were ordered. Approximately 6,000 pairs of disposable gloves are available.
School assemblies, pep rallies, class parties and other occasions or events that would result in large group gatherings are “paused” at least temporarily as a health safety precaution. Reading Buddies for elementary aged students is also suspended at this time.
Meals will be organized a bit differently, with different use of space and when possible may include skipping of seats and adding more lunch periods for secondary students.
Students will have access to water but will not put their faces to the drinking fountains. Students will be encouraged to bring water bottles, and teachers will have a limited number of disposable cups that can be distributed to students who do not have water bottles as appropriate.
Younger students will still go out to recess, with outdoor play equipment sprayed daily. Decisions regarding extracurricular activities will follow the lead of UIL and district committees.
The 10 page COVID-19 mitigation Plan Summary plan and back to school plan are available for viewing or download on the district website, www.ssisd.net.
SSISD Trustees also at the August 10 board meeting approved two COVID-19 related resolutions.
Resolution 5-20 puts in place a policy regarding staff pay in the event in-person classes are suspended and classes are all conducted virtually for a length of time.
During virtual-only learning, some district employees may be instructed not to report to work and others may be called on to provide virtual-only services. The resolution acknowledges a need to address wage payments for employees who are idle and those required to work during the virtual-only learning.
The school board in the resolution authorized “continued wage payments to all regular employees – contractual and noncontractual, salaried and non-salaried – who are instructed not to report to work during virtual-only sessions.”
Administrators reported this would be similar to the plan approved by the school board in the spring, so that school employees who are told to go home and cannot be utilized in other manners by the district during a closure would still be paid.
This will apply to a small percent of district employees, including about 10 of the district’s 50 bus drivers for whom driving a bus in their only source of employment.
Superintendent Michael Lamb said when possible, these employees skills are used elsewhere in the district. For instance, some were utilized to help deliver meals and cafeteria works were able to help prepare meals for distribution to students during the spring campus closures. Those employees were “rotated” giving as many as possible an opportunity to work during the spring.
A second resolution temporarily adjusts the academic achievement/class rank policy to exclude some courses taken by students participating in the Virtual Academy “to ensure fair and consistent designation of local honors.” These are addressed for EIC(Local) policy.
English, mathematics, science, social studies, and languages other than English classes taken via the SSISD Virtual Learning Academy during the 2020-2021 school year shall be included in the calculation of class rank, however.
Stew Contest Registration Deadline Nearing
Chamber Connection – Aug. 13
By Lezley Brown, CEO/President, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
It’s time for the 5th Annual Chamber of Commerce Photography Contest! Let me review the basics. Anyone of any age can enter as we have a children’s category. The picture must be newer than Jan. 1, 2018, and must have been taken in Hopkins County. The contest will be open from August 1st to August 31st. There are seven categories you may enter: Natural World, Travel, People, The Hopkins County Experience, Altered Images, Mobile, and Children’s Category. Only digital images are accepted (no prints). To submit your photograph, email the picture to [email protected]. Rules and releases will be available on the Chamber of Commerce website. I cannot wait to see your beautiful photos!
Please remember … Friday, August 28, is the last day to submit your registration form to cook in this year’s Hopkins County Stew Contest. No registrations will be accepted after this date.
Ribbon Cuttings
Kjc Beauty Supply hosted a ribbon cutting celebration
Kjc Beauty Supply, located at 1217 Broadway Street in Sulphur Springs, hosted a ribbon cutting celebration on Monday, Aug. 10, at noon. Please make plans to stop by to learn about this new business, do some shopping,
and welcome them to Hopkins County.
Business Highlight
During the year 2020, The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a business each week.
Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for Aug. 13, Tire Town. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
DIY Projects For Your Home
By Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent, Hopkins County, [email protected]
Many people do a fantastic job with do-it-yourself (DIY) projects; others – not quite as successful! I often fall into the latter category, depending on what I’m trying to do. However, at a recent conference, one of the workshops focused on making your own wet wipes (for cleaning hands and faces), and disinfectant wipes for surfaces in your home. Both are super simple and include easy-to-find ingredients, many of which you probably already have in your cabinet.
Both of these recipes use paper towels. I like to use the select-a-size heavy duty paper towels. If you use an empty coffee can in which to store them, cut the roll of paper towels in half using a sharp serrated knife. Squish them into the container. Otherwise, a zip-style plastic bag will work.
DIY Wet Wipes
- 1 tablespoon baby oil or other massage oil
- 2 cups water (distilled)
- 1 tablespoon liquid body wash
Directions: After cutting the paper towels in half, carefully remove the cardboard tube by twisting and pulling. Place paper towels in coffee can or other plastic container. Mix together distilled water, liquid body wash, and baby or body oil in a small bowl. Slowly pour liquid over the paper towels to saturate. If you use a container with a plastic lid, you can cut a small X in the center of the lid and feed the first paper towel through the hole. An alternative is to place the desired number of paper towels in a zip-style bag to carry with you! These can be used to clean hands, faces, elbows, etc!
DIY Disinfectant Wipes
- 2 cups distilled water
- 1 cup rubbing alcohol (at least 70% concentration)
- 1 tablespoon dishwashing liquid
- 3 drops tea tree oil (optional)
Directions: follow directions above for preparing the paper towels. Mix together water, rubbing alcohol, and dish soap. You can add several drops of tea tree oil or other essential oil to the wipes, which personalizes the cleaner. Pour liquid slowly over the paper towels until saturated. Now you have homemade wipes that are great for cleaning and disinfecting your home as a fraction of the cost of store-bought wipes.
DIY Hand Sanitizer
You have probably already seen recipes for DIY hand sanitizers, but in case you missed it, here’s a simple one!
- 2/3 cup rubbing alcohol (at least 70% concentration)
- 1/3 cup aloe vera gel or glycerin
- 5 to 10 drops skin safe oil (my favorite is the citrus)
Mix well and put in a container or add to paper towels. Pump bottles don’t work well with this recipe because it is more liquid. However, spray bottles DO work well!
Closing Thought
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.
– Abe Lincoln
Hopkins County Hospital District Board Of Directors Aug. 12 Meeting Agenda
Hopkins County Hospital District
Called Meeting of Board of Directors
Notice is hereby given that a Called Meeting of the Board of Directors of Hopkins County Hospital District will be held on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at Noon in the Plaza Conference Room of the CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic at 113 Airport Road, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
AGENDA
- Call to Order
- Invocation
- Public Forum
- Swearing in of Tim Kelty
- Review and Approve Financial Statements for May and June 2020
- Executive Session
- The Board will meet in closed session pursuant to Sec. 551.071 of the Texas Government Code to discuss with its attorney, either in person or by telephone, matters relating to the Lease Agreement with CHRISTUS Hopkins Health Alliance to provide certain financial support for the benefit of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs.
- Return to Open Session
- Consider and take action, as needed, related to any amounts paid
or to be paid by the Hopkins County Hospital District in support
of CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs or as provided through intergovernmental transfer to support additional Medicaid supplemental payments to CHRISTUS Mother Frances
Hospital-Sulphur Springs
- Consider and take action, as needed, related to any amounts paid
- Financing for New EMS Headquarters Building
- Consider and take action, if needed, on approval to pursue financing for a period not to exceed 10 years for the purpose of construction of a new EMS headquarters building
- Adjourn
Saturday Sports Clinic Offered Beginning Aug. 22 At CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Orthopedic Office
By Holly Ragan, MS, Senior Market Development. CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Sulphur Springs, Texas, August 11, 2020 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Health Ministry of Jesus Christ.
Are you going through the checklist of things to take care of before returning your students to school? Perhaps they need their annual vaccines or sports physical? We want to help! Call us today at 903.885.3181 to schedule an appointment with a Pediatrician or Family Medicine provider today!
New Staff
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital- Sulphur Springs is excited to welcome Dr. Chris Meltsakos, our new Orthopedic Surgeon with fellowship training in Sports Medicine. Dr. Meltsakos will be accepting new patients at 103B Medical Circle, beginning on Monday, September 7.
Sports Medicine
FREE Saturday Walk-In Clinic for school athletes is just around the corner. The Saturday sports clinic will be held every Saturday from 9am to 11am, on August 22 through November 14.
Athletes will get an exam and free x-ray to determine a plan of care to treat their injury. The location will be the CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Orthopedic Office at 103B Medical Circle in Sulphur Springs.
For more information about our Sports Medicine program, or Orthopedic services, please call our office at 903.885.6688.
Hospital Visitation
For the safety and health of the community and our ministry, CHRISTUS Health is screening all associates and visitors to our hospitals to help lessen the risk of infectious disease transmission among our patients, associates, and guests.
1 Entrance to hospital through Emergency Department 24/7
1 Visitor per patient
Visitors must be between the ages of 16 years-old and 65-years old
All visitors are screened at the door, including a temperature taken
All associates are screened at each shift, including a temperature taken
Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (subject to change)
ALL hospital visitors are required to wear a mask. Visitors should bring their own mask; homemade cloth masks are acceptable.
COVID-19 Testing
Experiencing Symptoms?
If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, chills, muscle pain or headache, or diarrhea, please call your provider for either a face-to-face appointment or a telemedicine consultation. If your provider determines you need to have a COVID-19 test, they will send you to the appropriate outpatient location for testing.
If you are experiencing an emergency, please present to the Emergency Room. At this time, we are preserving our Emergency Room COVID-19 tests for those who are experiencing an emergency. Otherwise, we would ask that you follow the steps above.
If you do not have a healthcare provider, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic welcomes new patients. Please call 903.885.3181 to talk to one of our associates about setting up an appointment.
Don’t Delay Care
We want to be perfectly clear – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances remains a safe place for all to receive quality care. Go to the Emergency Department or call 9-1-1 if you are urgently ill.
While COVID-19 is new, our processes and procedures in place for infection prevention and preventing the spread of illness are not. To learn more about COVID-19, go to ChristusTMF.org or www.cdc.gov.
Cumby ISD Athletics Canceled Until Aug. 24 Due To COVID-19
School Still Slated To Start As Scheduled Aug. 13
Cumby ISD COVID-19 protocols went into effect this week after some students reported virus symptoms, then, one confirmed COVID-19 case was reported, according to school officials. School athletic activities have been temporarily canceled, but classes are slated to begin as scheduled this Thursday.
Monday afternoon Cumby ISD officials announced the decision to cancel athletic practices and scrimmages until Aug. 24, after some students exhibited symptoms of COVID-19. Tuesday afternoon, Superintendent Shelly Slaughter reported the school had received notification one Cumby ISD student who was on campus on Aug. 7 has received a lab-confirmed positive COVID-19 result.
As both instances developed, the district began implementing the established district COVID-19 protocols and procedures. The school nurse has been working throughout the day in conjunction with the Local Health Authority nurse to identify and notify any individuals who may have been at high risk of contact and to conduct contact tracing, according to the superintendent.
“Individuals determined to be in close contact with the infected individual have been contacted directly via telephone by our District Health Contact/School Nurse, Juliana Osornio. Those that were in contact will remain off campus for up to 14 days to ensure that they do not have the virus, so that there will not be any further spread. If those quarantined want to return prior to August 24th, they must have been quarantined for at least 5 days from the last day of exposure and have obtained a PCR or molecular negative COVID-19 test. A negative antigen testis not sufficient,” Slaughter wrote in a letter posted around 5:30 p.m. Aug. 11 to the “Cumby ISD Family.”
Administrators report a letter to CISD families and additional details regarding online checking/learning protocols will be sent out on Wednesday. All Cumby ISD students are urged to check their school emails regularly for email notifications regarding class work, which will be posted in google classrooms.
As a precaution against potential spread of illness, all football, volleyball and cross country practices, activities and athletics have been canceled until Aug. 25 to preserve the health and safety of students and majority of each sport’s season.
School will reopen on Thursday, Aug. 13, as planned, and all other district operations will continue on schedule. The Cumby ISD Return to Learn 2020 plan outlines district protocols for students and staff exhibit potential symptoms of COVID-19, who have been potentially exposed to someone who has COVID-19 or has tested positive for COVID-19. The 24-page document can be downloaded from the school website cumbyisd.net.
Students in grades 9-12 will be given until Aug. 21 to switch from face-to-face to remote learning or returned to face-to-face” learning in light of a positive student COVID-19 case being reported.”
Students who know they will be participating in online learning and need technology or who don’t have access to their email account are urged to notify the school immediately so that arrangements can be made.
Any questions or concerns regarding health protocols should be directed to school nurse Juliana Osornio at [email protected] or 903-243-7077. Questions about instructional plans should be directed to Elementary campus Principal Doug Wicks at [email protected] or 903-994-4802 or High School Principal Donna George at [email protected] or 903-994-4801.
Paris Junior Collge Fall Registration Time
REGISTRATION TIME
The PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus is open and advisors are on hand to register students for the fall semester. Above, PJC Advisor Angela Ellis, left, assists Kylie Spencer of Sulphur Springs as she completes her paperwork for the fall. Arena registration will be held at all three PJC campuses on Saturday, Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon. Arena registration will be held again at the PJC-Sulphur Springs campus on Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call the campus at 903-885-1232 for more information.
Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.
Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.
The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.
Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.
Vision
To be the educational provider of choice for the region.
Mission
Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.
Aug. 11 COVID-19 Update: 3 New Cases, 59 Active Cases In Hopkins County
Three more Hopkins County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom reported at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11. No new cases were reported today.
That’s 53 new positive COVID-19 results and 48 recoveries for Hopkins County residents reported this month by Hopkins County Emergency Management officials.
That brings the total number of positive COVID-19 cases reported for Hopkins County residents since March to 205. Of those, 146 county residents have recovered, leaving 59 active cases at 5 p.m. Aug. 11, according to Newsom.
The COVID-19 unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs contained 6 patients, the emergency management officials reported Aug. 11. That’s two more patients in the COVID-19 unit than on Monday, Aug. 10, but still one less patient than was reported on Aug. 2.
Hopkins County officials reported they still have received no information regarding any death for Hopkins County, despite the Texas Department of State Health Services’s COVID-19 dashboard which for the firth consecutive day has shown two COVID-19 deaths for Hopkins County. The state on July 29 reported one COVID-19 fatality for Hopkins County. That death, according to the Texas COVID-19 Fatality County Data By County report, occurred on July 23. The second death, DSHS reported Saturday, occurred on Aug. 2.
Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley said the DSHS dashboard that is accessible to the public is not the same information provided to to emergency management officials. Endsley said he again spoke with the regional DSHS contact on Tuesday.
“We still do not have a visual from that side. We have not had anything confirmed from DSHS.That comes from the state, but a different department. The board we are looking at has zero deaths on it. He can’t find anything on our end,” Endsley reported.
All assisted living facilities in Sulphur Springs remained COVID-19 free as of Aug. 28, neither residents nor staff had tested positive. Only one nursing facility in Sulphur Springs has reported any COVID-19 cases. The facility has had 3 employees test positive for COVID-19 since the state began tracking that data, but no residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Aug. 28 is the most current data reported by the state; these reports for verification purposes, are typically 2 weeks behind.
Meet CeCe
“Meet CeCe! CeCe is a 4 year-old Shepherd/Pyrenees mix. He was born at the rescue and is one of three from his litter that still haven’t found a home. CeCe is a very loving, very playful, and very big pup! He is always happy to see you and loves giving big hugs! His adoption fee is $100.00 which includes all previous vetting, neuter, and rabies shot. Please contact us by phone at 903-439-5019, email at [email protected], Petfinder.com, or at Facebook.com/heartsoflife”
There is no Magical Formula for Watering by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas
There is no magical formula or exact rule for watering. Watering is based on the site condition, time of year, type of tree and, most importantly, soil type. Clay soils, while taking longer to wet, will retain moisture longer. Sandy soils, which easily absorb water also, dry faster.
KNOW YOUR SOIL TYPE!. Texas A&M Forest Services indicated that local environmental conditions affect how much water is lost from a tree and soil due to evapotranspiration. Trees will use and require more water during hot, windy, low humidity days versus cooler, calm, high humidity days. It benefits your trees if you track your local weather conditions and replace or replenish soil moisture as needed. Watering wisely is the best way to conserve our precious water resource and to benefit your trees.
Newly planted trees: Fill the water basin, allow the water to soak into the ground and fill the basin again. Depending on your site, soils and environmental conditions you may need to water as little as once per week or as often as three times per week. Two to three days after the initial watering, check the moisture of the backfill soil and the root ball soil (they will differ in texture). Get on your hands and knees, dig into the soil, grab a handful and feel it. If the soil is moist, check back in a couple of days. Repeat this process until you have determined the best watering schedule for your tree. If the soil stays squishy wet, you have a drainage problem or you are over watering. If the soil is crumbly, dry and hard, you’re not watering enough. The goal is to keep the soil evenly moist to a depth of 12 to 18 inches. Your watering schedule should change throughout the year. If it does not, most likely you will either be over or under watering your trees.
Older established trees: Water the entire root zone under and beyond the tree canopy. Apply enough water to wet the soil from a minimum of 12 inches deep to a maximum of 18 inches. This can be anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of water as it covers the ground area. Using some type of soil probe will help you determine how deep the water is percolating into the soil. Most mature trees only need to be watered on a bi-monthly to monthly schedule, depending on the type of tree and time of year.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
