What is COVID-19?
Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports several cases in the United States, including Texas.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Patients with COVID-19 have had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath.
What should I do if I suspect someone in my household has symptoms of COVID-19?
If you suspect you or someone in your household has COVID-19, follow these recommendations from the CDC.
What is the District doing to protect students and staff from COVID-19?
In response to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation in Fort Bend County, and to prevent community spread of the virus, Lamar CISD has closed all schools and facilities and initiated Modified Business Operations for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
Additionally, all travel and extracurricular activities are canceled for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
Through Modified Business Operations, Lamar CISD is continuing instruction for students remotely, allowing limited on-site staff and practicing social distancing.
What about testing, after-school programs and extracurricular activities?
All testing, travel and extracurricular activities are canceled for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
What is social distancing?
Social distancing, or avoiding close contact with other individuals to avoid catching the virus or passing it on, is considered one of the most important ways to prevent COVID-19 from spreading in communities.
This includes avoiding social gatherings and events – both large and small. While we understand social distancing can be difficult for families, especially children, this proactive approach has previously been effective in stopping or delaying community spread of infectious diseases.
Will Lamar CISD schools be closed?
In response to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation in Fort Bend County, and to prevent community spread of the virus, Lamar CISD has closed all schools and facilities and initiated Modified Business Operations for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
The District will remain flexible as leaders plan for long-term delivery of instruction and continue to work with local health officials to navigate the many details of this unprecedented situation.
What is being done to keep schools clean and protect students?
Lamar CISD is cleaning all schools and facilities using a hospital-grade eMist disinfectant. The District also has plans in place to continually clean and eMist all occupied areas during Modified Business Operations and beyond.
What are Modified Business Operations?
The closure of Lamar CISD schools and facilities suspends normal District operations to support the nation's need to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic. To maintain operational continuity and begin the remote and continuing education of our students, Lamar CISD initiated Modified Business Operations from March 23, 2020 for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
During Modified Business Operations, the goal is to minimize the spread of COVID-19 through remote work and instruction, limited on-site staffing and social distancing.
How will students continue their education during Modified Business Operations?
During Modified Business Operations, Lamar CISD remains committed to our students' education and success.
We realize no amount of remote education can replace the in-person care and instruction Lamar CISD teachers provide, but our goal is to minimize the spread of COVID-19 while providing continuity for our students.
For the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, Lamar CISD will be providing students with remote and continued learning opportunities. Find more information here.
What is ClassLink and how do I login?
ClassLink is Lamar CISD’s single sign-on program that allows students and staff to access all applications in one location.
To access ClassLink, visit Lamar CISD’s website and click on “ClassLink” at the top of the page. Students can login with their District username and password.
Students who experience issues logging into ClassLink should reach out to their campus for support.
My child's teacher is using the Zoom app to communicate online. Is this app safe?
Zoom is a powerful tool that allows for teachers and classes to connect online with video, audio, screensharing and chat. While Zoom can bring a great deal of value to the online learning experience, it is also important to understand possible shortcomings of this tool and to have systems in place to ensure it is a safe online learning environment.
Lamar CISD has turned on the following settings for all District Zoom meetings:
- Waiting Rooms: All Zoom rooms utilize the "waiting room" feature, requiring the teacher to allow entry into the room for each individual. This supports the teacher in only allowing their students into the room.
- Only "Meeting Hosts" can share their screen: This setting ensures that only the teacher (or meeting host) can share their screen with the rest of the room.
- Private Chat Turned Off: For all Lamar CISD Zoom meeting rooms, the "private chat" function has been turned off.
Lamar CISD has also established guidelines for our teachers to support them in having an effective online meeting in Zoom:
- Require students enter the room with their full first name and first initial of their last name. This supports knowing who is entering the room and aides in classroom management.
- Limit meeting rooms to a manageable number of participants. This allows the teacher to more effectively manage the learning experience for all students.
Lamar CISD teachers also have the ability to mute students and remove disruptive students from the Zoom meeting room.
We are thankful for the benefits Zoom provides during this time of learning at a distance and the settings and the guidelines the District has established should support a safe online learning experience for all of our staff and students.
What if I don't have access to a smart device (computer, laptop, tablet, etc.) for remote learning?
We understand that not every family has access to the internet or a smart device. We are prepared to work with families that need additional support. If your family needs assistance accessing online resources, please contact your campus principal by email.
Will the District be providing student meals during the closure and Modified Business Operations?
Families will be able to pick up lunch and breakfast for children 18 and under every weekday until services are no longer needed. Find more information and a list of meal sites here.
Will staff continue to get paid during Modified Business Operations?
The Lamar CISD Board of Trustees approved a resolution allowing the District to pay all hourly and salary employees during the closure, as well as during Modified Business Operations when employees are working remotely due to social distancing recommendations relating to COVID-19.
Have prom and graduations ceremonies for 2020 been canceled?
Following careful consideration and guidance from health officials, Lamar CISD has decided to cancel the 2020 proms scheduled for all five high schools and reschedule the graduation ceremony dates.
In an effort to balance safety and traditional ceremonies, the 2020 graduation dates have been rescheduled for:
Friday, June 26, 8 p.m. – George Ranch High School at Legacy Stadium
Rainout: Saturday, June 27, 9:30 a.m.
Saturday, June 27, 8 p.m. – Fulshear High School at Legacy Stadium
Rainout: Sunday, June 28, 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, June 28, 8 p.m. – Foster High School at Legacy Stadium
Rainout: Monday, June 29, 9:30 a.m.
Monday, June 29, 8 p.m. – Lamar Consolidated High School at Legacy Stadium
Rainout: Tuesday, June 30, 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday, June 30, 8 p.m. – Terry High School at Legacy Stadium
Rainout: Wednesday, July 1, 9:30 a.m.
As a reminder, all Lamar CISD graduation ceremonies will be streamed LIVE on the District's homepage and YouTube channel.