Families can resubmit the commitment form from Aug. 5 until 11:59 p.m. Aug. 9, according to the letter. This means families who want to change their selection from what was selected by the late July deadline can do so. If families did not submit a commitment form by late July, the preferred method of instruction defaulted to face-to-face instruction; those families also have the opportunity again to submit a commitment form should they desire virtual instruction for their students this fall.
Families who have not yet enrolled in Tomball ISD will make their selection between virtual or face-to-face learning during the enrollment process, according to the letter.
The learning method chosen will not be able to be changed again until the end of the first grading period, Oct. 23.
The TISD board of trustees approved delaying the start of school for all students until Sept. 8 during a special meeting Aug. 3. Previously, all students were slated to begin the school year virtually Aug. 18.
When school begins Sept. 8, students are slated to enter their preferred learning option—virtual or face-to-face—according to district information; however, all plans are fluid, district information states.
With delaying the start of the year, school days will also be extended for some students, according to the letter. Trustees approved adding up to 15 minutes per day to maintain the required number of operational minutes. For example, elementary students will wrap up the school day at 4:05 p.m. rather than 3:50 p.m. The extended school day will help provide time for additional cleaning of buses between groups of students, according to the letter. Additional school start and end times for the upcoming year will be shared on the district's website.
Although the start of school has been delayed, TISD announced Aug. 5 that strength and conditioning and fine arts camps may return at the secondary level beginning Aug. 6. Health and safety protocols will be put in place, according to the letter.
"While every day brings new challenges in what we will consider our new normal, we are ready to welcome back our students whether it’s in a face-to-face environment or through our Tomball Virtual School," Salazar-Zamora wrote. "Our teachers and staff are working extremely hard to ensure that high-quality learning continues and our destination excellence standards are met."
