Houston ISD cancels events, restricts visitors for 2 weeks following spring break

When Houston ISD returns from spring break on March 23, the district will have in place a new campus visitor policy and is canceling after school activities as it takes precautions to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.

The district is also requiring all employees, students, and families who have traveled or are planning to must notify the district by March 27.

The district also said it is prepared to close schools if it receives guidance from health officials to do so.

HISD has no confirmed cases of the virus; however, on March 9 the district said several people were in a 14-day self-quarantine after recently returning from a country on a federal travel warning list or are closely related to someone who did. The district said that affected schools will receive additional deep cleaning.

From March 23 to April 3, the district policy will only allow visitors on campus to pick up or drop off their student. Tutors, student teachers, substitute teachers, vendors, contract employees, and parents attending official meetings must be screened by an HISD nurse before gaining access, according to a district news release. The screening includes a temperature reading and questions about recent travel.

Events and activities, including the Parent University set for March 24, are canceled through April 3 as well, though UIL-sponsored stadium events will continue as planned. After-school child care services will remain in place between March 23 and April 3, the district said.