EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Hutto & Pflugerville ISDs
Boardmembers update COVID-19 safety policies
Pflugerville and Hutto ISDs to hold May elections
BY CARSON GANONG
A SURGE IN CASES
A sharp rise in COVID-19 cases led Hutto ISD officials to amend their policies. Some data comparing case rates includes:
HUTTO ISD The district adjusted several of its COVID-19 mitigation strategies following a spike in cases at the beginning of the spring 2022 semester. According to a district presen- tation, as of Jan. 13 there were 145 active staff cases and 402 active student cases, up from nine staff cases and 23 student cases Dec. 16. Affected students and staff are at home in isolation, district officials said. The high number of staff cases is especially problematic, Superinten- dent Celina Estrada Thomas said. “The staff cases are almost putting us at a standstill,” Estrada Thomas said. “As a district, I can tell you that we are struggling to cover classes.” To limit spread of the virus, HISD disallowed visitors to campuses through the end of January, with an exception for volunteers cleared through the volunteer application
After winter break (Jan. 13)
Before winter break (Dec. 16)
BY BRIAN RASH
PFLUGERVILLE ANDHUTTO ISDS Seats for Pflugerville ISD board President Renae Mitchell, Place 3; Vernagene Mott, Place 4; and Brian Allen, Place 5, will expire this May. Because of this, on Jan. 20 the school board ordered an election for May 7. District documents state though the order is made, officials are wait- ing for local early voting locations to be finalized. District staff have not yet provided a timeframe for when locations will be set. In Hutto ISD, seats for Billie Logi- udice, Terrence Owens and Morgan Hubbard expire this May. The filing period for the May 7 elec- tion opened Jan. 19, and will remain open to potential school board candidates through 5 p.m. Feb. 18.
Williamson County infection rate per 100,000: 166
Williamson County infection rate per 100,000: 10.9
9
145 402
Active HISD staff cases
Active HISD staff cases
23
Active HISD student cases
Active HISD student cases
SOURCE: HUTTO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
process. Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, the district lowered the quarantine period from 10 days to five days for staff who test positive, though staff members who return to work before 10 days will be required to wear a mask for the remaining days. The change applies only to staff,
and students who test positive must still wait 10 days before returning. Parents will also be allowed to keep their children home if a family member tests positive. The district will continue pro- viding testing and holding vaccine clinics, with the most recent held on Feb. 2 at Kerley Elementary School.
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