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-34, which reads as follows:

HEALTH

I believe my child may have COVID-19. What should I do?

Any individuals who either: (a) are test-confirmed to have COVID-19; or (b) experience the symptoms of COVID-19 (listed below) must stay at home throughout the infection period, and cannot return to campus until the school system screens the individual to determine any of the below conditions for campus re-entry have been met: o In the case of an individual who is symptomatic and is diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school when all three of the following criteria are met:

1. at least one day (24 hours) has passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications);
2. the individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and
3. at least ten days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

• In the case of an individual that is asymptomatic but has received a positive COVID-19 test result, the individual may not return to the campus until ten days have passed since a positive test.
• In the case of an individual who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and who is not evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, such individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to the campus until the individual has completed the same three-step set of criteria listed above.
• If the individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to school before completing the above stay at home period, the individual must either (a) obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis, though for health privacy reasons the note does not need to indicate what the alternative diagnosis is, or (b) obtain an acute infection test (at a physician’s office, approved testing location, or other site) that comes back negative for COVID-19.
• If the individual has tested positive for COVID-19 and believes the test was a false positive, and wants to return to school before completing the above stay at home period, the individual must either (a) obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for return based on an alternative diagnosis, though for health privacy reasons the note does not need to indicate what the alternative diagnosis is, or (b) obtain two PCR acute infection tests (at a physician’s office, approved testing location, or other site) at least 24 hours apart that come back negative for COVID-19.

Please be sure to notify your child’s campus if your child exhibits symptoms of or tests positive for COVID-19.

How will I be notified if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 on my child’s campus?

All cases of COVID-19 will be recorded on the district's COVID-19 Dashboard. This allows parents and community members to monitor the district-wide status of COVID-19.

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:

• Hand sanitizer and/or hand washing stations will be available in each classroom, at all entrances, and throughout common spaces.
• Students, staff, and visitors will be encouraged to sanitize and/or wash hands frequently.
• Custodial staff will engage in enhanced cleaning procedures of buildings including but not limited to all classrooms, offices, restrooms, and other common areas.
• Custodial staff will use a cleaning process with CDC recommended disinfectants that are proven to kill the COVID-19 virus as well as others and are certified safe for schools.
• Custodial staff will utilize electrostatic misters in all campus areas. Misters are designed to spread disinfectant and ensure that disinfectant droplets adhere to and coat surfaces.
• Custodial staff will frequently wipe high traffic surfaces, including handrails, door handles, counter tops, restroom surfaces, and cafeteria surfaces continually throughout the day.
• Custodial staff will increase the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting of restrooms and common areas throughout the day.
• Custodial staff will continually monitor hand washing and sanitizing stations throughout each building to ensure necessary personal disinfectant products are filled and available.
• Additional daytime custodial staff will be present on campuses to assist with more frequent disinfectant protocols.

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.lunchmoneynow.com/lmnlcp/splash.php.


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:

• All buses will have hand sanitizer dispensers placed in the stairwells for use when loading/unloading. All students will use hand sanitizer when boarding/exiting the bus. 
• Buses will load back to front, and unload front to back.
• To support contact tracing, students will be assigned seats and a seating chart will be maintained by the bus driver.
• Buses will be wiped down and sanitized daily.
• Bus windows will be partially open (at minimum) during routes to provide additional ventilation.

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.