By Megan Wehring
HAYS CISD — Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright believes that in-person classes in schools is one of the safest places for both students and faculty.
The school district has fielded many phone calls and and emails, and Wright says few cases come classes.
“Very few [cases] have been traced back to a school spread,” Wright said. “We continue to believe that we are providing a safe environment. … The problem with just shutting down is then it becomes just like a holiday event and we’re no longer in control of anything that happens in the community.”
Wearing face masks, shields, disinfecting hands and staying six feet apart from others are the best precautions to keep school a safe environment, Wright explained. The only reason the district would close down a particular campus is if there was a lack of staff.
While numbers can be deceiving, Wright said shutting down would show a significant increase in positive cases.
“Yes if you shut down, your numbers that you’re going to report the Monday after you shut down are going to look great,” Wright said. “But probably a week later, they are going to have a dramatic increase just like they would if you had a holiday.”
The district has been using fumigation, or fogging, and disinfectant in classrooms and other areas on campuses. Wright explained that the district is working on implementing a technique, similar to business cards, for custodians or other staff to mark the rooms after they have been disinfected.
“People need to have peace of mind,” Trustee Meredith Keller said.
Acquiring the COVID-19 vaccine has been challenging for all parties, including Hays CISD.
“We were told that we were going to have those vaccines last week but the county said they did not get those doses in,” Wright said. “So, they requested more. We are hopeful that we will get those soon, but I’m hesitant to say which particular day or week.”
Once the doses come in, the district will release more information when available.
