HISD interim superintendent to provide update on district’s coronavirus planning

HOUSTON – Grenita Lathan, interim superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, has scheduled a news conference Wednesday to provide an update on how the district is making plans for several events amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Lathan said she plans to discuss distance learning, the close of the school year, summer school, high school graduation ceremonies and plans for the start of the next school year.

Here are some of the points made during the news conference.

• Have contacted about 95% of students since the outbreak closed schools
• 35% of homes in the district do not have internet service; gave those students hot spots and access to computers
• Purchased more devices to give to students who need them
• 713-556-4636 – distance learning HISD hotline
• Prepared to continue distance learning for 2020-2021 school year if needed
• Since March 13 – 5.2 million pounds of food have been given to households across the district
• May 22 will be last food distribution by HISD at NRG
• Working on a meal delivery program to feed homeless students
• Masks and pediatric
• All HISD graduation ceremonies will be held virtually
• Not feasible or responsible to schedule 45 ceremonies and put health and safety at risk
• Graduations will go live on June 14 – additional details will be given by principals to students
• June 5 – citywide celebration, open to students only
• June 8 to July 2 – Summer school will be virtual
• Enrichment opportunities being made available this summer, info going to parents and students soon
• Next school year
  • looking at virtual, staggered scheduling,
  • working to figure out how to track attendance in a virtual format,
  • looking at year-round designation possibly, earlier or later schedules, talking to principal, parents, students about those decisions
  • will offer academic boot camps in August
  • Board will hold a public hearing soon
  • Looking to hire some new instructors
  • Looking at the minimum requirements regarding academic standards in an altered format
  • Hoping to make a decision within the next four weeks, but everything is contingent on waivers received from the Texas Education Agency

This story is developing and will be updated.