TEMPLE, Texas — With COVID-19 cases surging across Central Texas, the following school districts announced whether or not they are going to resume classes as normal after winter break:
Academy ISD
Academy Independent School District announced Tuesday via newsletter that it will close all of its schools for the remainder of the week, Jan. 19 to Jan. 21.
Axtell ISD
Axtell ISD announced Wednesday on its Facebook that it will close schools Thursday and Friday Classes will resume Jan. 18
Belton ISD
Belton Independent School District is moving to Scenario 3 of the COVID-19 Response Plan, which includes limiting school visitors, social distancing and increased cleaning.
Baylor University
Baylor resumed operations on Jan. 4, but its website said in-person learning will resume Jan. 18 with precautionary measures in place through the first two weeks of the semester. Face coverings are required in certain indoor settings, such as in all academic classrooms and labs.
Campus COVID testing resumes Jan. 5. See the COVID testing webpage for hours/locations.
The Baylor Health Center reopens Jan. 10 & vaccination clinic Jan. 12.
Buckholts ISD
Buckholts ISD announced on its Facebook page Tuesday that it will be closing its school doors for the remainder of the week until Jan. 18.
"In response to the extensive amount of illness continuing to spread throughout the community, low attendance rates, and staffing shortages Buckholts ISD will close Jan. 12 - Jan. 15, 2022," the district stated on their Facebook.
Bremond ISD
Bremond ISD announced on its Facebook page Tuesday that it will be closing its doors for the remainder of the week. They currently have almost 100 kids out sick and they say that number is growing.
They plan on returning Jan. 18.
Connally ISD
Connally ISD announced that they have been recommended by the McLennan County Health Department to close all campuses in its district through Jan. 18.
"The decision was made based upon the recent sharp increase in positive cases and the ongoing transmission throughout the Connally community. This closure is an effort to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our district. Our hope is that the closure will provide those who are positive with the virus or exposed to others with the virus, the time to isolate and recover. This closure will also allow time for deep cleaning of the campus facilities," said the district.
The district will offer free meals to all CISD students. Breakfast will be distributed from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and lunch will be distributed from 11 p.m. to 12 p.m. in front of the Connally Elementary School and the Connally Junior High School campus.
School is scheduled to resume in-person learning on Wednesday, Jan. 19.
Coolidge ISD
Coolidge Independent School District will remain open Thursday for UIL competitions but will close Friday.
Fairfield ISD
It was announced Wednesday that Fairfield ISD is cancelling school for Thursday and Friday due to staffing issues from COVID-19.
We will resume all class/activity on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
Per the announcement, all FISD extracurricular activities will continue.
Marlin ISD
Marlin Independent School District announced on its website that it will delay bringing back students for the spring semester.
The new date for students to return is Jan. 10.
Mart ISD
Mart ISD announced Thursday it would not have classes Friday, Jan. 14. Classes will resume Jan. 18, according to a tweet from the district.
"This missed day will not be made up due to flexibility in our district calendar," the tweet said. "We are sorry for the inconvenience this may cause our families."
McGregor ISD
McGregor ISD announced Wednesday that it will close all its schools Jan. 13. Classes and activities will resume Tuesday, January 18.
Midway High School
Despite 33 students and staff members at Midway High School testing positive for COVID-19, classes are expected to resume on Jan. 5.
In a letter sent to parents, the school said out of the 33 confirmed cases, six were staff members and the rest were students in various grades.
Parents were told in the letter that they will be contacted by the school if their child was found to be in close contact with those who tested positive.
Though school is set to resume like normal, the letter stresses to parents to monitor their children for any potential symptoms before they go to school each morning and to keep them home if they do.
Mexia ISD
Mexia Independent School district resumed classes Jan. 18 after its first temporary COVID closure a week prior, but with student and staff populations "heavily impacted", it decided to extend the closure.
The district had a consultation with its local office of Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and say the numbers they saw when they returned were unexpected and alarming following this closure.
Mexia ISD will close Jan. 19 to Jan. 25
It plans to resume all classes and activities on Wednesday, Jan. 26.
Salado ISD
Salado ISD announced on its Facebook Tuesday that it would close all schools due to COVID related staffing issues.
The closure happen from Jan. 19 to Jan. 21.
Temple ISD
The district released a letter to parents saying they are following the CDC's most recent guidance related to cutting down the minimum required quarantine from 10 days to five days if asymptomatic or if symptom-free for 24 hours.
However, Temple ISD Superintendent Bobby Ott says the full 10-day quarantine will be allowed.
"Some people even though they're asymptomatic, they want to stay in quarantine for 10 days and so we have told our staff and our students that it's a personal decision and we will support you," Ott told 6 News.
The district will announce whether or not adjustments will need to be made in the future.
Waco ISD
Waco ISD resumed classes Jan. 4.
The district told 6 News it is relying heavily on their current COVID-19 protocols to fight the Omicron variant, including the district-wide mask mandate that's been in place since last August.
West ISD
West Independent School District announced Tuesday that it would temporary closures all of its campuses from Jan. 19 to Jan. 21.
Gholson ISD
The district has decided to close its doors from Friday, Jan. 14th through Tuesday, Jan. 18th. Classes and bus routes will resume the normal schedule on Wednesday, January 19, 2022.
"In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses in our district, Gholson ISD will be closed Friday, Jan. 4th through Tuesday, Jan. 18th. Classes and bus routes will resume normal schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022."