As we enter the home stretch of the 2020-2021 school year, there are some modifications in health and safety protocols that were approved at the GCISD Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, March 29.
Mustang Panther Stadium COVID-19 Testing Center Open for All GCISD Students
GCISD has been participating in a statewide program funded by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) offering rapid COVID-19 antigen tests for staff. The District is pleased to share that it will be expanding this resource to all GCISD students. Beginning today, March 30, GCISD students will be able to utilize the GCISD Mustang Panther Stadium rapid antigen COVID-19 Testing Center. Visit www.GCISD.net/COVIDTesting for more information on the testing center and how to schedule an appointment.
Quarantine Update
The Centers for Disease Control published guidance on how to reduce quarantine for close contacts of COVID-19. Under this option, an individual may end quarantine after Day 7 provided that they have had no symptoms during their daily monitoring and there is a negative COVID diagnostic test. As we will now be offering rapid antigen COVID testing for all GCISD students, we are going to make this option available for quarantined students beginning today, March 30. For more information, visit our Spring 2021 Guide.
Additional Updates to Spring 2021 Guide
The following updates have also been made to GCISD’s health and safety protocols and can be found in the Spring 2021 Guide. Thank you for your continued efforts throughout the spring to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Elementary Plexiglass Dividers
The use of plexiglass dividers in elementary classrooms is now voluntary, however it is recommended that plexiglass dividers still be used during lunch due to inability to social distance.
Visitors and Special Events
Campuses can now provide limited opportunities for visitors and volunteers to come on campus to assist. The process and procedures will be determined by each individual campus and will be communicated with parents as needed.
Additionally, there may now be limited opportunities for specially designed outdoor events during the final nine-week grading period. For these events, there will be specific COVID-19 guidelines and criteria that are communicated ahead of the event by the campus.
Outdoor Activities
For spectators at UIL sporting events, masks are required when moving throughout the venue, however, masks may now be removed when individuals are seated and socially distanced from others.