Conroe ISD has released its plans for in-person instruction for students. Although district officials have said this plan could change due to announcements from the Texas Education Agency and Gov. Greg Abbott, it presents several new requirements for students at all levels.

Parents must select on-campus or remote learning by July 28. They may change their selection at the end of the first nine-week grading period.

According to the district’s reopening website, these guidelines may vary from campus to campus.

Transportation


Schools will have separate entrances for bus riders, bikers and car riders as well as hand sanitizing stations and propped-open doors. Non-classroom staff will supervise students to make sure they do not congregate. Parents and guardians will not be allowed to accompany or escort their students into the school.

Dismissal will be staggered for students to avoid congregation, with the same hand sanitizer and propped-open doors and with staff there to help supervise. Adults must wait in the car for their students.

Classrooms


Elementary and pre-kindergarten students will use hand sanitizer or wash their hands upon entering and exiting a room. Students must also use their own supplies as much as possible, and shared supplies will be disinfected between uses.

“Every effort should be made to distance students 6 feet apart from one another as instructionally possible,” the district’s website said.


Students will also be taught how to disinfect their own supplies, and teachers will develop procedures to limit student movement.

For middle school and high school students, desks and tables will be socially distanced as much as possible. Shared supplies will also be eliminated as much as possible, and students will be encouraged to bring their own laptops, tablets or other electronic devices to reduce sharing. Group or partner work may be implemented, and students will be encouraged to wear face masks during this work.

Outside of this, face masks may be worn but will not be required by students and staff unless the district deems it neccesary based on its protocols. Face masks are optional for students and staff at Level One, required for staff and recommended for students at Level Two and required for staff and students older than 10 at Level Three. The district is currently operating under Level Three.

Cafeteria


During lunch, students will be physically distanced from each other as space allows. They will also be provided with a bar code to avoid using a keypad when purchasing lunch.

Campuses may implement a variety of other tactics depending on the size of their cafeteria, including allowing students to eat in nontraditional locations or allowing for multiple lunches throughout the day to stagger students.


Meals will be pre-packaged for quick selection. Microwaves will not be allowed in order to minimize cross-contamination, and visitors will not be permitted to enter schools during lunch.

Restrooms


Elementary students will be taught proper hand-washing, and full-class bathroom breaks will be implemented to reduce mingling with students from other classes. Restrooms will also be monitored to make sure social distancing can be maintained.

For both elementary and middle school students, toilets may be restricted in order to distance occupants from each other, and after each bathroom break, students must use hand sanitizer before returning to the classroom.

Fine Arts & Physical Education


Large group rehearsals will be socially distanced, and on-campus performances and concerts may be altered based on health and safety guidelines. All performances will be streamed online when possible.

Physical education groups will practice outside and socially distanced when possible. Equipment will be disinfected between uses.

Athletic programs for high school students may continue under health and safety guidelines. Spectators to any games will be limited and must comply with local social distancing guidelines.