Waco Reporter

The Waco Independent School District has planned, prepared and taken precautions for the start of the school year, Superintendent Susan Kincannon told Waco Reporter.

Classes started on Sept. 8, three weeks later than originally scheduled. Students had the option of attending in person or studying remotely. Kincannon said 51% are studying remotely and 49% are in classrooms.

The district had 14,355 at its two high schools, six middle schools, 15 elementary schools and four other sites, she said.

“Before the start of school on September 8, Waco ISD families were able to choose between full-time in-person and full-time remote instruction for their students,” the superintendent said. “Families can change their instructional choice for in-person or remote learning before the last two weeks of each grading period. The request will become effective for the next six-week grading period. We encourage our families who have questions about a change of instructional choice to contact their individual campus to discuss available options. 

“Of course, it’s been wonderful to see students interacting with each other and their teachers on our campuses, but we understand many families felt it best for their child to learn remotely this school year,” Kincannon said. “Our technology department did a tremendous job of ensuring our remote learners would have access to the internet and online learning opportunities. And our teachers are committed to delivering high-quality instruction and making this a great year for our students, whether that’s in-person or virtual.

After in-person education ended in the spring, the Waco ISD began work preparing for a unique school year this fall.

“Our campuses and departments worked tirelessly over the summer to make our return to in-person instruction as safe as possible,” Kincannon said. “New processes and procedures have been implemented and are working smoothly. Our students have adapted just as well as our teachers to safety precautions.

“And while we’re doing what we can to reduce the risk that someone will be exposed to COVID-19 at one of our schools, we cannot eliminate that risk. However, we used the health and safety requirements put in place by the state as a starting point and built on them by going further to protect our students and employees.”

A summary of these steps is available at wacoisd.org/summary. 

“As for staffing, we had six teacher resignations, three of those being retirements, since teachers returned to work,” Kincannon said. “We started off Sept. 8 with only a single teaching vacancy, which is a testament to the work of our Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Josie Gutierrez and her team. They’ve done a tremendous job recruiting and staffing for this school year.”

School days are 15 minutes longer than before, with elementary schools running 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., while the middle and high schools start at 8:30 a.m. and the final bell rings at 4:15 p.m. This is intended to build up minutes toward the state minimum in case the district needs to suspend classes due to a flareup of cases.

The district took steps to reduce the risk of that happening. HVAC systems were adjusted to increase the air exchange rate and fitted with filters that provide a higher level of filtration.

Hand sanitizing stations were installed in every classroom as well as common areas. Each classroom has hand sanitizer in a pump bottle.

Water fountains were converted to bottle filling stations or disconnected.

If there is not sufficient space for social distancing in some areas, plexiglass barriers were installed.

Signs encouraging hand-washing, wearing masks and social distancing were put in place, and seating in stadiums, gymnasiums and theaters were marked to promote social distancing.

Unneeded furniture was removed from some classrooms to allow for more room between students, and some hallways and staircases are designated as one-way.

“Cleaning and sanitization protocols have also been enhanced to reduce the potential for the virus to spread,” the Waco ISD website reported. “All campuses will be cleaned with a hospital-grade disinfectant twice each day, and high-touch areas [including restrooms] will be disinfected more frequently.”

Despite all those efforts and best of intentions, there is the chance someone will become infected, the district states.

“While there is much that we can do to reduce the risk that someone will be exposed to COVID-19 at one of our schools, we cannot eliminate that risk,” it says in its website. “Any in-person gathering of people during a pandemic carries with it the risk that someone may unknowingly have the virus and spread it to others."

The plans summarized in this document have been developed in consultation with a team of local health experts.

“They take the health and safety requirements put in place by the state as a starting point and build on them going further to protect our students and employees," the document notes. "When there are cases at a campus, we will notify both families and employees and will work closely with Waco- McLennan County Public Health District.”

It requires a team effort.

“It will take all of us working together to keep our students, our employees and our community safe,” the district states. “The most important thing that we can do is to stay home if we’re feeling sick or believe that we have been in close contact with someone who has the virus."

Kincannon, a veteran of 30 years as an educator, started as Waco’s superintendent in September 2019. She said she has been impressed by the spirit displayed by district employees.

“We have an amazing staff at Waco ISD,” she said. “I've had the pleasure of walking into many of our teachers’ classrooms these past two weeks, and I'm incredibly proud of the work that they have done to meet the needs of both our remote and in-person learners. The excitement of students to be learning again and of teachers to have their kids back feels very familiar.”

Kincannon told Waco Reporter she chooses to remain positive.

“The year is just getting started, but I’m optimistic about where we are headed,” she said.