The Dripping Springs ISD board of trustees adopted an emergency resolution March 16 giving Superintendent Todd Washburn to make a range of decisions and purchases on behalf of the district during the schools' closure through at least April 3, according to communications from the district.
The resolution activates a Texas Association of School Boards provision permitting superintendents to approve pay for teachers during emergency scenarios—including the current novel coronavirus outbreak. It also gives Superintendent Todd Washburn the authority to alter the school calendar in response to accumulated coronavirus-related absences. According to the adopted resolution, the superintendent "will provide timely and reasonable information to the board of trustees" following any relevant decisions made during the closures.
A March 16 post on the DSISD website said that district administrators and staff are in the process of creating a plan to provide online learning opportunities for students while schools are closed, including providing resources to families without the necessary technology to complete online work. Additionally, the post said that plans are in the works to assist families with students who are on free and reduced lunch plans with meals.
Original post—March 16, 12:56 p.m.
Dripping Springs ISD announced March 16 in an email to district parents that it would close schools and suspend all normal school operations through April 3, following the district's spring break, which concludes March 20.
During the two-week moratorium on school activities, no athletic or other extracurricular activities will occur. However, the superintendent's message to parents said the DSISD community would receive further information this week about plans for "instructional support" and plans to provide meals for certain students.
DSISD's decision to close schools follows Hays County's March 14 announcement of the first presumptive positive case of novel coronavirus in the county. Like DSISD, Austin ISD has also decided to extend spring break until April 3.
The board of trustees for DSISD will hold an emergency meeting March 16 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss appropriate measures to "help the district continue operations" during the closure, according to communications from the district.
