LAMPASAS, Texas — For the first time in months Lampasas ISD welcomed back students since schools were forced to close early when the Coronavirus outbreak began.
"It's kind of surreal that you see kids now with masks on but we're just glad to see the kids," Chane Rascoe said, the district superintendent. "I mean it's been a long time and it gives us some encouragement to see the kids and see them excited and ready to come back to learn."
Rascoe said they are following all the CDC health guidelines to keep staff and students safe by keeping them socially distant in class and the cafeteria. They also encourage hand washing often and have hand sanitizers in most places, including buses.
"There was a lot of nervousness going in to all of this with our staff because our staff was nervous not only for the stand point of the kids but also for themselves, so I'm hopeful that over the next coming weeks that as we go through this people will relax more and then we'll get back to educating," Rascoe said.
Jonna Langford, a fine arts teacher, is one of several teachers who was worried about going back.
"I was feeling anxious, you know it was a little bit different, a different start to the school year, but as soon as I walked in the door and the kids started coming in and they were happy and I could tell that even though I had my mask on they recognized me and it all went away," Langford said.
She noticed that many students were excited to be back in the classroom and with their friends, and those who were worried began to feel better throughout the day.
"As a teacher and a mom myself, just know that we as teachers have the kids best interest at heart and we're gonna do our best to make sure that everything gets done that needs to be done for them," Langford said.
Lampasas ISD is currently looking for more substitute teachers, bus drivers, and custodians for this school year.
For more information on Lampasas ISD's Covid-19 response and job openings, visit their website: https://www.lisdtx.org/Page/9