The safety of our students, staff, and their families is the top priority of Lubbock-Cooper ISD. Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions regarding the district's COVID-19 protocol.
ON-CAMPUS AND AT-HOME LEARNING
Can I opt for virtual instruction for my child?
After careful consideration and input from teachers, administrators, and district families, the Lubbock-Cooper ISD Board of Trustees has voted to suspend virtual instruction effective on Tuesday, October 13 for secondary students and Monday, October 19 for elementary students.
The decision to end virtual instruction was not taken lightly; however, district and campus administrators believe it is in the best interest of Lubbock-Cooper students. The district is currently serving 10% of the LCISD student population virtually. Out of that percentage, less than 10% of secondary students have remained actively engaged throughout the entire process, and less than 40% of elementary students have remained actively engaged. While some students have been regularly engaged and successful, the vast majority of our virtual students are suffering educationally and are not showing learning progress. Our teachers and administrators have made numerous attempts to reach and engage virtual learners but have seen minimal improvement or success. As a school district, it is our job to serve students and provide them with the best possible educational opportunities.
At this time, Traditional Instruction is the only learning method available to LCISD students.
Does my child have to wear a mask at school?
Use of face coverings will follow Governer Abbott’s order GA-29, which reads as follows:
Every person in Texas shall wear a face covering over the nose and mouth when inside a commercial entity or other building or space open to the public, or when in an outdoor public space, wherever it is not feasible to maintain six feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household; provided, however, that this face-covering requirement does not apply to the following:
HEALTH
I believe my child may have COVID-19. What should I do?
Parents must ensure they do not send a child to school on-campus if the child has COVID-19 symptoms or is lab-confirmed with COVID-19. If you believe your child may have COVID-19 and is experiencing symptoms, please contact a healthcare professional. Your child will need to remain off-campus until the following Return to School Criteria are met:
Please be sure to notify your child’s campus if your child exhibits symptoms of or tests positive for COVID-19.
I believe a member of my household has COVID-19. What should I do?
If you believe a member of your household has COVID-19, it is best to assume the individual does have COVID-19 until they have received a negative COVID-19 test or have been cleared by a physician. If the suspected member of your household does not receive medical clearance or it is determined that your household has been exposed to COVID-19, all household members should stay home until the incubation period has passed, unless otherwise instructed by the City of Lubbock Health Department.
Please be sure to notify your child’s campus if your child is staying home due to possible COVID-19 exposure.
How will I be notified if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 on my child’s campus?
As required by the Texas Education Agency, the parents of all students on a campus will be notified of any lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 identified among students, teachers or staff who participate in any on-campus activities. The notification will be via email, and will be consistent with school notification requirements for other communicable diseases and legal confidentiality requirements.
Receiving an email notice of a confirmed COVID-19 case on your child's campus does not necessarily mean your child has had any exposure to the infected individual. The campus will work to identify any cases of known potential close contact, and will notify those parents via telephone to allow for additional monitoring and/or medical follow-up.
How are you keeping classrooms/schools clean?
Our janitorial staff already exceeds health code requirements for sanitization. In addition to daily cleaning, all campuses will adhere to the following:
STUDENT SERVICES
Has meal service been impacted by COVID-19?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently issued flexibilities enabling Lubbock-Cooper ISD to provide free school meals for all students through the fall semester.
Beginning Monday, September 14, reimbursable school meals will be available to all Lubbock-Cooper ISD students at no cost. A reimbursable school meal includes at least one serving of fruits or vegetables and at least two servings of meat, grain, and/or dairy. (A standard school meal is considered reimbursable.) This opportunity will expire at the end of the 2020-21 school year.
Students will still be charged for additional servings and a la carte food items. If you wish to apply money to your child's account to allow them to purchase additional servings or a la carte food items, please visit https://www.
Will the bus be available to transport my child?
As we work to achieve the safest possible return to school for our students, we must address the issue of transportation. While buses will still be provided for students who need them, we are encouraging families to transport their own children to school if at all possible. We feel this will minimize the number of bus riders and allow maximum social distancing on our buses.
The option to ride the bus is still available if you are not able to transport your children to/from school. The following guidelines are in effect on LCISD buses:
OTHER
How can I help?
The Pirate family is an incredible, powerful group! Many community members have reached out offering assistance as we implement home instruction in the wake of school closure during the COVID-19 public health crisis. If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to LCISD Director of Student Services Jay Whitefield at jwhitefield@lcisd.net.
I have additional questions. Who can I contact?
If you have additional questions about the district’s COVID-19 protocol or preparations, please email your question to info@lcisd.net. Your question will be directed to the appropriate contact. You are also welcome to contact your child’s campus at any time during school hours.