BELL COUNTY, Texas — The Bell County Public Health District announced the start of in-person classes in public and non-religious private schools was delayed until after Sept 7 Thursday. School districts will still be able to conduct online learning, according to the order from Local Health Authority, Dr. Brenda Smith.
Extracurricular sports and activities will also be delayed under the order until school systems reopen for on-campus instruction with the following exceptions:
- 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A high schools may conduct extracurricular activities, including band practices and volleyball, football, and cross country practices, scrimmages, games, and meets according to the latest UIL guidelines and restrictions regarding gatherings mandated by Governor Abbott.
- Students already participating in University Interscholastic League strength conditioning programs can continue to participate as long as the schools follow UIL guidelines.
The order said while religious schools were exempt under Abbott's orders they were strongly encouraged to comply with the regulations.
Each school system was asked to submit a comprehensive plan for opening to the health district by Aug. 21.
Smith said she anticipated schools would be able to return by Sept. 8 but she wanted to see a two week downward trend in the positivity rate and cases. Smith said a positivity rate of 5% or lower would make her feel better about lifting the order. The rate as of Thursday was 8.87%
“After a careful review of the data for Bell County, including concerning trends in young adults and children, evidence of increasing community spread, and concerns about the health of not only students and staff, but their families and loved ones, it became apparent to me that delaying the opening of schools was necessary," Smith said in a release. "I know we all want to see our children back in school, and hopefully with the community’s help in following facial covering and social distancing guidelines, we can reverse the trend and make that happen.”
Temple Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Bobby Ott said instead of starting virtual learning on Aug. 19, as was originally planned, TISD would delay all classes, in-person and virtual, until Sept. 8. Ott said the last day of school will be June 9, 2021.
Ott posted a video to the district's YouTube page explaining the reasons for the complete delay.
Killeen ISD said it would continue to analyze the possibility of starting the school year on Aug. 17 in a totally virtual manner. The district said this possibility will be discussed at an upcoming board meeting July 28. The district said it has been planning a "two-pronged approach" that would give the district flexibility to transition throughout the school year to a virtual platform.
In response to the order, Belton ISD said it will have to reconsider its back-to-school plans, which were expected to be released Friday.
"Honestly, we're not surprised by this," BISD spokesperson Elizabeth Cox told 6 News. "Our district leaders have been planning for the multiple scenarios that we may face in the coming school year. Facility closure is one of them."
Cox said Belton ISD hopes to be able to release details an updated plans early next week.
According to Salado Middle School Principal Ted Smith, pending board approval, Salado ISD will not be starting school until the Sept. 8 for both in-person and online classes. Smith sees the order as an opportunity for preparation.
"I think this is gonna give us a chance to train our staff and a chance to really develop the skills we need for a lot of different scenarios going forward," Smith said.
Watch the Bell County health district answer questions regarding the decision to delay in-person classes:
Bell County reported 1,594 active cases of COVID-19 Wednesday with 18 total deaths.
The county reported 59 new cases Thursday which was up from 56 Wednesday but continued a downward trend in cases but Judge David Blackburn encouraged everyone to continue wearing masks, social distancing and handwashing.
The decision came just two days after McLennan County Local Health Authority Dr. Farley Verner issued an order to delay in-person classes and all school sponsored events until Sept. 8 at the earliest.
Verner said he made the decision based on the continued rise of COVID-19 cases in the county.
McLennan County reported four additional deaths Thursday. The victims were a 52-year-old Hispanic woman, a 70-year-old white woman, a 97-year-old Hispanic woman and an 83-year-old white woman.
The county had 1,664 active cases. The 7-day positivity rate average was 19% on Tuesday.