School calendar, meal distribution: 4 pandemic updates to know from Tomball ISD

Tomball ISD Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora gave an update on the district's response to the coronavirus pandemic during a May 11 board of trustees workshop, noting a more detailed report will follow in June as the district prepares to reopen ahead of the next school year.

1. Meal distribution will continue on Wednesdays in June, providing families with five days of meals every Wednesday from 8-11 a.m. rather than 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Tomball High School. Salazar-Zamora said the numbers are still growing of families coming to pick up breakfast and lunches for the week.

2. The district is preparing to hold summer school virtually. However, plans have not been released publicly as to what virtual summer school will look like.

3. After the state shared guidelines May 5 for how districts can hold virtual and in-person graduation ceremonies, TISD moved its graduation ceremonies to an outdoor venue. Ceremonies were previously planned for July 24 at the Berry Center in Cypress but have been moved to The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on July 24 to comply with the state order for in-person graduations to be held outdoors, Salazar-Zamora said.

4. Salazar-Zamora said a more detailed report will be shared in June as to what the reopening process will look like for the district and what the fall semester may look like. The Texas Education Agency released guidelines May 7 about possible adjustments school districts could consider making to the 2020-21 calendar in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to minimize anticipated disruptions, such as a potential increase in absence rates, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported. Salazar-Zamora said adjusting TISD's upcoming calendar is a possibility.

"Many of you have probably heard some about an amended calendar. We are considering that as one of the many possibilities, so we will certainly share information and get your input before anything goes out if we decide to go with a formulated change to our calendar," Salazar-Zamora said to the board members.