New COVID Positive Cases Reported in ECISD for the week of May 16-20:

ECHS - 0 students, 0 staff

ECMS - 1 student, 0 staff

Northside - 0 students, 0 staff

Hutchins - 0 students, 0 staff

Myatt - 0 students, 0 staff

21-22 ECISD May Report

2021-2022 COVID-19 Protocols – Updated January 7, 2022

Regarding Staff Rules: 

Positive/Presumed Positive Staff may return when:

• If symptomatic, at least 5 days have passed since symptom onset, and fever-free*, and other symptoms have improved.
• For those with no symptoms, at least 5 days after the day they tested positive.

           *Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever suppressing medications. Fever is a temperature of 100° Fahrenheit (37.8° Celsius) or higher.

Staff who meet the close contact threshold with a COVID-19 positive individual and are in one of the following groups, do not need to stay at home.

• Ages 18 or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
• Was confirmed COVID-19 positive within the last 90 days and has fully recovered.

For staff who meet the close contact threshold with a COVID-19 positive individual who are not in one of the above groups, it is recommended that the school system require that staff remain off campus during the stay-at-home period, but this is a local employment policy decision. If these staff continue to work on campus, rapid testing must be performed periodically for 5 days post-exposure, with testing on the 5th day recommended.

Regarding Student Rules: The rules for students have not yet been changed.

2021-2022 COVID-19 Protocols – Updated August 25, 2021

Following a lengthy, thoughtful, and heartfelt discussion regarding masks at the school board meeting on Tuesday, August 25, 2021, the school board identified several priorities: 

1. Prioritizing the health and safety of students and staff. 
2. Keeping schools open.
3. Providing in-person instruction.
4. Continuing mitigation strategies within the schools.
5. Work with local health care providers to make vaccines available through the schools. 

In a unanimous vote, the board voted to "STRONGLY RECOMMEND" that students and staff wear masks. This recommendation was designed to support the priorities listed above. Schools have a tremendous responsibility educating students and keeping all individuals healthy. Please follow your conscience and the recommendations of science, health care professionals, and our board to reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

August 19, 2021: COVID-19 and the impact on Texas public schools has been high profile in the news. El Campo I.S.D., our campuses, and health professionals have been strictly following procedures and protocols from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS). Our August 18, 2021, Ricebird News details that recent guidance.  

Late on the afternoon of August 19, 2021, TEA released new information and guidance. Please be patient as we work through this changing guidance from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and work to implement new procedures. 

The district realizes the importance of this issue and we take the dissemination of information seriously. Following the release of TEA's information late Thursday afternoon, ECISD immediately began to work with our legal counsel and our Tuesday, August 24, 2021 board agenda was modified to discuss and take possible action on our COVID-19 protocols and procedures.   

The following are the additions to the Public Health Document released by TEA: Public Health Guidance August 19, 2021 

The guidance in this document is authorized by Executive Order GA-38, which has the effect of state law under Section 418.012 of the Texas Government Code. Executive Order GA-38 provides TEA with the legal authority to publish requirements for the operation of public school systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. This document takes effect immediately, replacing all prior guidance. TEA recommends that public school systems consult with their local public health authorities and local legal counsel before making final decisions regarding the implementation of this guidance. This guidance is subject to change as new information becomes available.   

Required Actions if Individuals with Test-Confirmed Cases Have Been in a School: 

1. If an individual who has been in a school is test-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school must notify its local health department, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, including confidentiality requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). 

2. Upon receipt of information that any teacher, staff member, student, or visitor at a school is test-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school must submit a report to the Texas Department of State Health Services via an online form. The report must be submitted each Monday for the prior seven days (Monday-Sunday). 

3. Consistent with school notification requirements for other communicable diseases, and consistent with legal confidentiality requirements, schools must notify all teachers, staff, and families of all students in a classroom or extracurricular or after-school program cohort if a test-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified among students, teachers or staff who participated in those classrooms or cohorts. 

Masks 

Please note, mask provisions of GA-38 are not being enforced as the result of ongoing litigation. Further guidance will be made available after the court issues are resolved. 

As always, we thank you for your continued flexibility and support as we work to keep the El Campo ISD community safe. Please continue to check our District website for the most up-to-date information.