Comal ISD Parents Asked to Make ‘Non-Binding’ Choices About Upcoming School Year

Comal ISD will launch an online forum next week to help parents decide between on-campus instruction or remote learning for the upcoming school year.

In an email today, Supt. Andrew Kim said the district will create a Comal Parent Center that explains new guidelines outlined by the Texas Education Agency on Tuesday.

Parents will be asked to review that information before making non-binding “commitments” about how to education their children as COVID-19 cases continue to rise dramatically in Comal County.

“The Comal Parent Center will have information related to both that will help you make your decision,” he said.

TEA said it will fully fund in-class and remote instruction for every child during the upcoming school year.

“We are reviewing these guidelines closely and finalizing our 2020-21 back-to-school launch plan,” Kim said. “We are going through each item, making sure that our plan aligns with the Texas Education Agency’s directives regarding the health and safety of our students and staff.”

To request more information, email communications@comalisd.org.

In a press release yesterday, TEA said Texas officials including Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen are committed to fully funding in-class and remote instruction along with identifying health-and-safety procedures to support student-and-teacher safety.

Public health guidelines include requiring students ages 10 and older to wear masks for the duration of the governor’s executive order.

TEA Commissioner Mike Morath said the guidance could be modified over time.

“Both as Commissioner and as a public school parent, my number one priority is the health and safety of our students, teachers, and staff,” he said. “That is why the guidance laid out today will provide flexibility to both parents and districts to make decisions based on the ever-changing conditions of this public health crisis. The state is and remains committed to providing a high-quality education to all Texas students, while ensuring the health and safety of students, teachers, staff, and families.”

However, Texas State Teachers Association on Tuesday criticized the TEA for not protecting teachers in classrooms with students under the age of 10 and said teachers should have the option of teaching remotely.

Fore more information about TEA’s coronavirus support and guidance, click here.