San Marcos CISD closes three classrooms due to active COVID-19 cases
Sierra Martin | Managing Editor
SAN MARCOS – San Marcos CISD began the 2021-2022 school year on Monday, August 23, and just two weeks into in-person classes three Elementary classrooms have moved to remote conferencing to try and limit the spread of COVID-19.
According to Andrew Fernandez, SMCISD executive director of communications and community relations, there are two classrooms at Crockett Elementary and one at Travis Elementary that have been moved to remote conferencing due to COVID-19.
Remote conferencing allows students access to teachers four hours a day to address any questions about their asynchronous assignments.
Screenshot of SMCISD online COVID-19 dashboardIn a letter to parents and faculty, San Marcos CISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Cardona explained that SMCISD’s threshold to move an entire classroom, grade-level or school to remote conferencing is 10% or greater positive case confirmation count within a school week.
On Thursday, August 12 the San Marcos CISD approved a mask mandate with their Board of Trustees. SMCISD is the only school district in Hays County that has directly gone against Governor Greg Abbott’s executive order against mandating masks.
According to SMCISD’s online COVID-19 dashboard which updates weekly, there are 21 students and six staff members that have tested positive for COVID-19 as of August 30.
Cardona stated that the 27 positive COVID-19 cases in the district is manageable compared to surrounding districts, and thanked students and staff for adhering to the mask mandate. According to Cardona, New Braunfels has reported 88 cases, Hays CISD 134 cases, Dripping Springs 65 cases, Wimberley 58 cases and Lockhart 148 cases.
Cardona also said that beginning Tuesday, September 7, SMCISD will update their COVID dashboard daily, on days students are in school.
As the school year progresses, San Marcos Corridor News will continue to update readers on the COVID-19 situation in local schools. If you are a parent, student or faculty member and would like to share your story, please email news@smcorridornews.com.
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