New Braunfels ISD staff announced on July 28 that the district will return to 100% in-person learning on Aug. 23.
Due to the restrictions placed on school districts by Executive Order GA-36, which went into effect in May, the district will not require mask wearing or COVID-19 vaccinations for students or staff.
The order prevents government entities, including school districts, from enacting mask mandates.
On July 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that all individuals - including those who are fully vaccinated - wear masks in all K-12 schools.
The guidance CDC guidance also recommends fully vaccinated people in areas with "high" or "substantial" levels of transmission wear masks in indoor, public settings. Comal and Guadalupe Counties are both currently classified by the CDC as having a high level of transmission.
Additionally, the district will continue to utilize Canvas and Seesaw for content delivery and teachers will support students who are absent for any illness-related reason, though a full online education option will not be offered.
Lack of state funding for remote learning programs and responses from district parents that indicated the vast majority would prefer to send their children to in-person classes influenced the district's decision not to offer a more robust virtual program, said Kara Bock, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for NBISD.
Parents and students will not longer be required to complete online screening surveys as was the practice during the 2020-21 school year, but those coming to campus are requested to self-screen and stay home if they are sick.
If a positive case is reported to the district it will then be reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services and parents within the district.
Employees will continue to be required to fill out the COVID-19 reporting form but staff members who are in close contact with a confirmed coronavirus case and are fully vaccinated will not be required to quarantine.
The district will continue frequent cleaning and sanitation efforts throughout campuses and on busses and teachers are encouraged to promote social distancing whenever possible.
District officials are continuing to coordinate with local organizations to offer vaccination and immunization clinics on campuses
For more information about the back-to-school plan, community members can visit the NBISD website.
Editor's note: This post was updated to correct information about the quarantine process.
