Kim went on to say that CISD will continue its meal distribution, and will provide devices to those who need them through the district's Technology Checkout Program, which can reached at 830-221-2690.
The district is waiting on guidance from the Texas Education Agency before it releases details on graduations, yearbook distribution, retrieving personal items from campus, and other questions students and parents may have.
"In the meantime, please encourage your children to stay engaged and participate in the [Residence Learning Program], and know that our teachers, administrators and staff are here for you." Kim said in an email. "I am grateful for all of the work they have done, and to you for the support you have provided during this unprecedented time."
Original story
In a press conference on Friday, April 17, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that all schools will remain closed through the end of the school year.
Comal ISD and New Braunfels ISD previously extended school closures through May 4 in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Texas.
“Our goal has been to at least make those decisions, if we can, two weeks out to give parents time to plan for long-term child care,” said NBISD Superintendent Randy Moczygemba. “Even above education—health and safety is the number one priority.”
Current projections place the coronavirus peak in Comal County at least two to three weeks out. CDC guidelines recommend keeping schools closed one to two weeks after cases have reached their peak.
According to Moczygemba, if the peak were to occur near the first week of May, schools would not be able to return to in-person lessons until at least the middle of May, giving students and teachers only one to two weeks of school before summer vacation.
The last day of school for NBISD and CISD is May 28.
Both districts are offering online education opportunities for students through NBISD's “one-to-one” technology initiative and CISD's “Residence Learning Program."
“There are a lot of challenges to online learning,” Moczgemba said. “Technology can never replace the job that a teacher does.”
The district's maintain independent authority to decide how online assignments will be graded during the closure, and teachers are finding ways to be flexible and creative with their lessons, Moczygemba said.
“I'm glad that [the] decision's made and that people can move forward [and] know what to expect,” Mocyzemba said. “There's some closure in that we know this is going to be the norm for the remainder of the year, and I think everybody can settle in and on it focus on that.”
Extending closures through the rest of the year means that students and teachers will not meet again in-person until at least the beginning of the next school year, a fact that Moczygemba said has been saddening for many in the district.
“Our students really don't get that closure at the end of the school year,” Moczygemba said. “A lot of our teachers have that mentality that ‘we just want to see our kids just one more time before summer break.’”
Each district has operated meal pick-up sites for students since the beginning of the closures with four participating campuses, a bus route in NBISD and ten participating campuses in CISD.
