North Texas News

When Krum Independent School District (ISD) officials asked parents to choose between in-person and remote learning earlier in the summer, 75% had enrolled their child into live learning by early August.

“Our parents seemed to be extremely pleased that Krum ISD was offering a choice to them, and that it was ultimately their decision on whether their student would return to campus for in-person learning or stay home to participate in remote learning,” Krum ISD Public Information Officer Taylor Poston told the North Texas News.

Krum ISD is among the school districts in Texas that decided to return students to brick-and-mortar classroom learning this fall. Since school started, Poston says there have not been any reported cases of COVID-19 among students, teachers or staff.

Taylor Poston | https://www.krumisd.net/

“The best advice I could give other school districts would be to follow the guidance provided by Texas Education Association (TEA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC),” Poston said. “Have someone really study and learn these procedures so that they can be implemented effectively, and be sure to tailor that guidance to your district's needs and resources. It is also extremely important to put that information into the hands of parents and staff so they feel informed and can make informed decisions for their child.”

In addition, staff members that were proficient in certain areas, such as Google Classroom, provided training to their peers, according to Poston, while others brainstormed special solutions to challenges that would make transitioning back into the classroom as smooth as possible.

“The support from our staff has been overwhelmingly positive,” Poston said. “We have a great group of leaders and staff members that were willing to do whatever was necessary to get our students back to learning, whether it would be remotely or in-person. Our teachers were really ready to have face-to-face interactions with their students again.”

Despite the financial cost that arose due to the required COVID-19 signage, dividers for tables, infrared thermometers and electrostatic sanitation sprayers and other cleaning products, school officials decided to meet the challenge and reopen the classrooms, according to media reports.

“Our lunchrooms have been manipulated to allow for social distancing,” said Poston. “We have the tables pushed as far apart as possible and have students sitting in every other seat and not across from one another. Our secondary campuses even have individual desks in the lunchroom to help space students apart. As for classes like phys. ed., just providing students with a designated spot for participation helps us implement social distancing.”

Masks are not required for students below third grade, the Denton Record-Chronicle reported, but students in fourth grade and up are required to wear masks except during lunch and physical education class.

“Many of our students are extremely excited to be back in the classroom and among their peers,” Poston said.