Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD
Return to Learn Plan: 2023-2024

Updated: August 9, 2023

• In June 2023, after a review of the entire plan, updates were made to the Stakeholder Consultation, Academic Plan, and ESSER III Budget sections.
• On August 9, HEB ISD updated the plan to align with guidance from Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (RIPICS)

COVID-19/Communicable Disease Health Protocols

CDC Recommendation:

People with symptoms of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and gastrointestinal infections should stay home and get tested for COVID-19. People who are at risk for getting very sick with COVID-19 who test positive should consult with a healthcare provider right away for possible treatment, even if their symptoms are mild. Staying home when sick can lower the risk of spreading infectious diseases, including the virus that causes COVID-19, to other people.

Communicable Disease Prevention:

Wash your hands frequently throughout the day, after using the restroom, after playing outside and before eating.

Handwashing Steps:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap.
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together; lather the back of hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Scrub for at least 20 seconds; sing the ABC song or Happy Birthday twice!
• Rinse your hands under clean running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean paper towel or air dryer.

Handwashing Videos:

• Wash Your Hands - from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Fight Germs. Wash Your Hands! - from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• (Spanish) Acabe con los microbios. ¡Lávese las manos! - from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, dispose of tissue, and then wash hands.

• Video: Healthy Habits Tips #1: Covering Coughs and Sneezes (National PTA)

Local Testing & Vaccination Opportunities

Information about finding local testing and vaccination opportunities is provided on our website:

• COVID-19 Vaccination Opportunities & Testing

HEB ISD Facility Protocols

• Hand sanitizer will be available at all facilities.
• Handwashing and respiratory etiquette will be reinforced.
• Water fountains will be available for student use, however students are encouraged to bring their own refillable water bottle from home.
• Individuals may choose to bring and appropriately wear a face mask for health and safety purposes.

Protocol for Positive COVID-19 Case on Campus

• A student suspected of having a communicable illness (such as flu, COVID-19, Pertussis, etc.) will be provided a mask to wear and will be socially distanced until the student is picked up by a parent/guardian.
• If an individual has been in a district facility and is confirmed to have COVID-19, the Coordinator of Health Services will notify the Tarrant County Public Health Department (TCPH), in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including confidentiality requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• HEB ISD students and employees who test positive for COVID-19 are directed to report the test to HEB ISD. For more information and links to online reporting forms, visit the COVID-19 School Health Protocols webpage.
• Students will remain home to isolate during the infectious period.
• Students may return to school when all three of the following criteria are met:
  1. At least 5 days have passed since the start of symptoms. The day symptoms start is Day 0.
  2. The individual has improvement in symptoms.
  3. The individual has been fever free (below 100 F°) without the use of fever reducing medications.
• See Also: Criteria for exclusion from school - Guidance from the Texas Department of State Health Services about conditions that require a student to miss school.
• Staff will remain home to isolate during the infectious period.
• Staff may return to work when the following criteria are met:
  1. At least 5 days have passed since the start of symptoms. The day symptoms start is Day 0.
  2. The individual has improvement in symptoms.
  3. The individual has been fever free (below 100 F°) without the use of fever reducing medications.
• Note: For 5 days after a student or employee returns, a properly worn mask is strongly encouraged. 

Cleaning and Sanitization

• HEB ISD has developed a targeted cleaning process that specifically addresses sanitization and disinfection.
• HEB ISD custodial employees have been trained on sanitizing and disinfecting safety protocols.
• Each district facility will be cleaned daily with EPA-approved products in accordance with CDC guidelines. (This includes individual classrooms and common areas).
• If a communicable disease cluster is identified within a district facility, additional cleaning measures will be taken, as appropriate.
• The district will continue to provide hand sanitizer throughout every campus and facility.
• The district will continue to provide EPA-approved surface cleaner for all campuses, departments, cafeterias, and classrooms. Surface cleaner will be available for students that request to clean their desk or eating area.
• Disinfecting will occur during the day by wiping high contact surfaces as needed.

Ventilation

• HEPA ventilation/filtration units are located in school clinics.

Transportation

• Each bus will be sanitized daily using EPA-approved cleaner dispensed with the deionization process.
• Hand sanitizer will be available for students to use as they board each bus.
• Bus windows will be open based on weather and temperature parameters to allow for air circulation.

Visitors

• All visitors must sign-in when entering a district facility and should not visit if they are ill.
• Any visitor who has tested positive for COVID-19 must remain off campus until he or she is fever free for 24 hours, are symptom free and at least 5 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

Stakeholder Consultation

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the Return to Learn and ESSER III Surveys and focus groups in May-June 2023. We received over 750 responses from the community who completed the online survey. Parents, staff, students, and community stakeholder groups were notified of the ESSER survey through email. We had various focus groups consisting of the District Level Improvement Committee, Student Ambassadors, Better Together and Adopt-A-School Partners, and stakeholder groups representing special education administrators, English learners, and homeless students.  The ESSER III Compliance Update was presented at the August 7, 2023, School Board Meeting where there was an opportunity for public input.

The overall results of the community aligned with school and district staff results. The results from each of the three categories Academic, Instructional Resources, and In-School Safety Protocols’ are listed below ranking the items most from important to least important.

Academic Recovery Strategies:  (1) Tutors and interventionists; (2) Additional classroom sections and teachers; (3) Additional support for students receiving special education services; (4) Social and emotional health and wellness support; (5) Emergent bilingual support; (6) Family engagement support; (7) Summer School; (8) Saturday School

Resources:  (1) Curriculum support; (2) Instructional materials; (3) Instructional technology software for students (4)Technology hardware and devices; (5) Technology software for staff; (6) Nurse support

In-School Safety Protocols: (1) Educating students on handwashing and cough/sneeze etiquette; (2) Availability of surface cleaner for students; (3) Daily cleaning with EPA approved products; (4) Providing HEPA ventilation/filtration in school clincs; (5) Availability of hand sanitizer; (6) Sanitizing the buses between routes; (7) Free COVID-19 testing for students and staff in HEB ISD; (8) Sharing information about vaccine opportunities; (9) Availability of masks; (10) Sharing information about COVID-10 testing locations (11) Social distancing 

Return to Learn Academic Plan (ESSER III)

The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Fund is authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021. The intent and purpose of this funding is to help schools safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on students. Addressing the academic learning recovery of students is paramount, as well as, the return to in-person learning.

The ESSER III initial allocation was $20,452,557 and the second allocation will be $10,226,278 for a total grant allocation of $30,678,835.  This one-time only grant will be for three years.

• 2021-2022 including the summer 2021 and summer 2022
• 2022-2023 including the summer 2023
• 2023-2024 including the summer 2024 (carry-over period)

The ESSER Grant requires at least 20% of the funding be utilized to address learning loss. The Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD has allocated 86% of our funding to the Return to Learn Academic Recovery Plan.  Our academic learning recovery includes the following:

• Early Literacy K-2
• Math K-12
• Secondary STAAR and End of Course Subjects
• Social,Emotional, Mental Health
• Emerging Bilingual Education
• Other related areas include:
  • Expanding and refining Summer Programs
  • Increasing Technology
  • Increasing Tutoring and Intervention
  • Increasing Family Engagement and Translations
  • Increasing Instructional Resources
  • Providing required compensatory services for SPED students
  • ARD committees are reviewing accommodations and instruction to address the gaps caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

To accomplish our academic learning recovery goals, HEB ISD will hire the following additional positions:

• Elementary Full Time Interventionists
• Secondary STAAR/EOC Teachers
• Elementary and Secondary ESL (English as a Second Language) Teachers
• Special Education Professional Staff
  • Diagnostician
  • Dyslexia Specialist
  • Speech Language Pathologist
• Teachers on Special Assignment to provide curriculum support for teachers
• Teachers on Special Assignment to provide support for Emergent Bilingual students
• District Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Student Intervention

ESSER III Budget