LAKE JACKSON, Texas (AP) — A Houston-area official said Monday it will take 60 days to ensure a city drinking water system is purged of a deadly, microscopic parasite that doctors believed killed a boy and that led to warnings for others not to drink tap water.  Lake Jackson City Manager Modesto Mundo said that three of 11 samples of the city’s water indicated preliminary positive results for the naegleria fowleri microbe. Mundo said Lake Jackson residents are still urged to boil their tap water before using it.  One sample, Mundo said, came from the home of Josiah McIntyre, the 6-year-old boy whom doctors said died earlier this month after being infected with the brain-eating parasite. view article

The Dallas Independent School District last night published a dashboard that will allow you to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 by school, ZIP code, and trustee district. It’s easy to use and contains simple visuals to go with the numbers. At lunchtime on Friday, there were 39 total cases districtwide. Of those, 30 are students and nine are staff.  It was released in time for the first day that students can begin returning to campuses, which will happen on Monday. Some special education students have already returned. Elementary and middle schools will open for five-day schedules while high schools will have a hybrid arrangement that will stagger students.    (29) view article

Texas officials were again forced to adjust incorrect coronavirus data on Friday, retracting a spreadsheet detailing coronavirus cases in public schools after the state identified “issues” with the information it contained.  The Department of State Health Services and the Texas Education Agency jointly published the spreadsheet, which provides the public with information on coronavirus cases by school district, on Thursday. It came a week after the agencies launched a new dashboard to report positive COVID-19 tests in public schools.  The spreadsheet had discrepancies that were apparent immediately - while the dashboard reported about 6,300 coronavirus cases on the dashboard in total, the district-level spreadsheet counted more than 6,700 cases. School districts also questioned the accuracy of the numbers, reporting incorrect numbers for enrollment and coronavirus cases.    (29) view article

The vast majority of known coronavirus cases among Texas public school students who have returned to classrooms in person this school year were found in older students, new state data released Thursday shows.  According to the data, which includes self-reported, test-confirmed cases from hundreds of school districts across the state, 69% of infected students were in grades seven through 12, while just 15% were in grades four through six and 16% in grade three or lower. Experts say that split makes sense, since there is some evidence that older students are more likely to be symptomatic and thus more likely to be tested. view article

LAKE JACKSON, Texas (KTRK) -- The city of Lake Jackson has lifted a Do-Not-Use Advisory for water customers while a Boil Order remains in place. The change comes as state and city officials worked to flush and disinfect the city's system after tests revealed the possible presence of a brain-eating amoeba in three water samples. The earlier advisory urged residents not to use water for cooking, bathing or drinking. The updated guidance lifted those restrictions and was part of a planned transition to bring the water system back to normal, TCEQ officials said. view article

EDINBURG, Texas — “What the order says is that they should delay on campus instruction until after October 25,” Hidalgo County Health Authority Dr. Ivan Melendez. “And the reason why is this is an effort to continue mitigation you know slowing down of COVID-19”    Governor Greg Abbott declared this month that the Rio Grande Valley is a danger zone, meaning that more than 15 percent of hospitalizations in the RGV are from COVID-19.    view article

As of Sept. 28, at least 19,666 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed across the 10 ZIP codes that fall within Cy-Fair ISD’s boundaries. This includes 1,163 active cases, 18,338 recoveries and 165 deaths, according to Harris County Public Health. view article

The Anthony Independent School District is installing air purification filters in its schools and central offices to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “It [the sensor] pushes out positive and negative oxygen ions, which in turn neutralize airborne pollutants,” Oscar Troncoso, Anthony ISD superintendent, said. view article

Beaumont ISD announced on Monday an additional employee has tested positive for COVID-19, and that the district is now launching its new COVID-19 tracker to provide real-time data about positive cases among students, staff and teachers. view article

HAMSHIRE, Texas — The challenges brought on by the pandemic forced the Hamshire-Fannett ISD school board to start talking about some possible changes.  Two weeks ago, more than 100 students and staff members had to self-quarantine, along with 11 staff members.  Some students had no choice but to switch to all-virtual learning. view article

Nearly 6,730 cases of COVID-19 have been reported across Texas' 1,200-plus school districts so far in the 2020-21 school year, according to new state data released this week.  State school districts are now required by the Texas Education Agency to report cases of COVID-positive individuals who have spent time on campuses. Districts are also required to report positive cases to their local health department, teachers, staff, students and families. view article

WEST SABINE, Texas (KETK) – West Sabine said in a statement that Overton has cancelled against them due to COVID-19 cases on their team.  West Sabine said that their coaches will be working with other teams to find a competitor for Thursday and Friday nights games.  If West Sabine cannot find a competitor, their homecoming game will be against Lovelady. view article

HUMBLE, Texas (KTRK) -- Family members are concerned that Atascocita High School may not have enough safety measures in place after a student snapped a picture of a crowded hallway during the school's passing period.  The student's family member wanted to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation from the district.  In the photo sent by the student, dozens of students can be seen walking in a crowded hallway, but most students appear to be wearing masks. Eyewitness News blurred the picture to conceal the students' faces. view article

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — About 9,000 students will return to in-person classes Monday in Hays CISD, which is 46% of the student body, while the rest will remain at home taking virtual classes.  Last year, we told you about the ‘100% Hays initiative’ which was established to make sure no student is left behind. It looks to address students who might need mental health support.  “They have a coach or a director who can be an adult advocate for that child so in smaller groups we find if there are critical needs,” said Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright. “Kids feel more comfortable speaking to those particular adults, and because they have a close knit family of peers, they are more apt to be more a part of all things in school, and it typically increases student achievement.” view article

LAKE JACKSON — Brazosport ISD announced late Sunday afternoon the brain-eating amoeba discovered in Lake Jackson’s water system and ensuing boil-water requirement won’t keep schools from opening Monday.    (28) view article

Granbury ISD reported three new positive COVID-19 cases last week, two students from Granbury High School and one staff member from STEAM Academy at Mambrino, making a total of five active cases.  The district said they followed state and local protocols in notifying parents by email of the positive tests, and if parents did not receive an email, they should contact their student’s campus to ensure the school district has current contact information available in Skyward.   view article

ABILENE, Texas — Sunday evening, Wylie Independent School was notified that the district had three new COVID-19 cases.  The individuals are two students and one staff member at Wylie High School. view article

Face coverings are required for all spectators at high school athletic events In his bi-weekly update on Friday, New Waverly ISD Superintendent Dr. Darol Hail told parents that the University Interscholastic League has been threatening action against districts where masks and social distancing has not occurred.  “I know of several districts that have received various forms of warnings. The warnings have allegedly even included canceling games/ seasons or removing all crowds,” he noted. view article

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Tyler ISD superintendent, Dr. Marty Crawford, spoke to KLTV Friday morning.  He said the COVID-19 rates in the system were ‘pretty minute’ and said they hope to keep it that way. He also talked about the upcoming football game Friday night between Tyler Legacy and Lufkin.  Crawford also talked about observing the COVID-19 guidelines from the UIL as well as the learning curve students are having to navigate with virtual learning. view article

WHITEHOUSE, Texas (KLTV) - Whitehouse ISD Superintendent Dr. Christopher Moran said he has specific staff trained to contact trace COVID-19 cases.  Moran said in an interview on East Texas Now that about 33 members of his staff were trained during the summer to contact trace.  Moran said positive cases are trickling into the district pretty regularly, but it is not overwhelming.  Moran said students are finding face-to-face learning is easier for them.  “We have a constant stream of students who committed to remote learning but are coming back,” Moran said.  Moran said some remote learners are following the curriculum but many others are not. view article

The good news is: Dallas ISD will soon have a dashboard of its own that will tell the public how many coronavirus cases it’s reported, just like schools in surrounding districts, including Highland Park ISD and Richardson ISD.  Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa told school board trustees Thursday evening that they would get first glance at the dashboard, and after that, the public would get access. But before the meeting was over, the district had shared the dashboard.    (28) view article

The Flour Bluff Independent School District has announced that a student at Flour Bluff High School has died. Out of respect for the privacy of the student's family, details including the student's death and cause of death are not being released at this time by the district. view article

Sunday evening, Abilene Independent School District was notified of one new positive COVID-19 case. District leaders say that case is a staff member at Mann Middle School. view article

On Tuesday the second six weeks of school for Copperas Cove Independent School District will begin, with on-campus learner numbers to increase. During the first six weeks, a total of 4,766 were learning on campus and 3,213 were virtual, at-home students. Families were given until September 16 to commit to a change from either on-campus or virtual studies for the second six weeks. view article

The Nederland ISD superintendent shares details about Covid-19 concerns that prompted the district to cancel Friday night's football game on Sept. 25. Fox 4/KFDM's Ian Criss reports that Superintendent Dr. Stuart Kieschnick says it's not only because several people in the athletic department tested positive for Covid-19, but there are concerns about a bus ride to Huntsville and back for Friday night's game. view article

The Bastrop, Elgin and Smithville school districts have all reported positive cases of COVID-19 among their students and/or staff but the spread has not been wide, according to officials and publicly available health data.  In Bastrop, 13 students and five employees have tested positive for COVID-19; In Elgin, six employees have tested positive for the virus; and in Smithville nine students and two employees have shown COVID-19 symptoms or have come in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus, according to each district’s COVID-19 dashboards. view article

About 6,300 students and staff have been infected with COVID-19 since public schools began reopening in late July, according to new state data.  The cases represent just a small portion of the total students and staff who returned to their campuses at the start of this academic year. About 0.33 percent of the estimated 1.9 million students and staff who have attended in-person activities contracted the virus so far.  The state also reported cases by district for the first time on Thursday, identifying the most positives at Garland ISD outside of Dallas. There, 97 students and 38 staff have been infected. Brownsville ISD, in the Rio Grande Valley, has reported 116 infections, all among staff. view article

ALBA, Texas — Alba-Golden ISD (AGISD) has announced, effective immediately, all students involved in varsity football, varsity volleyball and JV volleyball are in a mandatory quarantine period of 14 days. "This is in response to positive COVID-19 tests within our athletics program that has been contact-traced to include each of these teams," AGISD said ina statement. "We feel that this is the best course of action in order to protect our students and their families as best as possible during this time." view article

It has come to my attention that there are concerns about stadium procedures and protocols for visitors to our events at Timpson ISD. We published our stadium guidelines and athletic event procedures on our website many weeks ago.  We have tried to communicate the guidelines and enforce them as much as possible. However, our country is currently in a struggle for power and that struggle in my opinion has made its way to school stadiums and school houses across the nation.  I understand that some people believe the Coronavirus poses a great threat to our society while others do not believe it is real. So whether you believe COVID is real or not, the letter I received from UIL yesterday about potential allegations of violations of COVID-19 protocol at TISD “is real.” view article

The Texas Faculty Association called on Gov. Greg Abbott Tuesday to order colleges to report weekly numbers of COVID-19 positive cases and related deaths.  Pat Heintzelman, the association president and an instructor at Lamar University in Beaumont, said the group wants Abbott to use his emergency powers to require all public and private colleges to report their cases and provide faculty with information needed to keep themselves and their families safe. The association is an organization of about 500 college faculty members from across the state. view article

MIDLAND, Texas (KOSA) - Midland ISD will announce later this week its plan to bring students back to class five days a week.MISD Chief of Staff Katie Atkins told the Midland Reporter-Telegram the district wants to make sure there is plenty of time to make the adjustments needed to bring the students back full time.  Students involved in the Midland Online Academy would continue taking classes from home.  MISD students haven’t been to class five days a week since before spring break. view article

WESLACO — Trustees at Weslaco ISD considered a proposal to spend upwards of $1.8 million, and potentially more than $3 million, on air disinfection units for the district’s HVAC systems at their Sept. 14 meeting.  The board considered rough estimates for the purchase and installation of two types of systems: bipolar ionization units with an estimated price tag of $1.8 million to $2.2 million and ultraviolet-C lighting units costing between $2.6 and $3 million. view article

TIMPSON, Texas (KTRE) - Timpson ISD Superintendent Mid D. Johnson has a message for parents and other adults in the school district about COVID-19 safety rules.  Johnson posted the following statement on the district’s Facebook page: view article

LOGAN, Ohio -- The Governor of Ohio is responding after an incident at a middle school football game caused uproar online.   A video shared online captured a resource officer arresting a woman for refusing to wear a mask. The next day, the school received threats.   The Logan-Hocking School District superintendent says they weren't credible, but he wasn't taking chances with student safety, so the district was placed on lockout.  In response, Gov. Mike Dewine is urging residents to respect officers enforcing health policies. view article

ROCKWALL, TX (September 21, 2020) The Rockwall ISD Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting on Monday, September 21. Here is a summary.  NOTE: Board meeting summaries highlight different agenda items due to limited audience opportunities at Board meetings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Board meeting videos are available for viewing within 24-hours of the meeting at www.rockwallisd.com.  view article