Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan

The Northside Independent School District (NISD) website can be translated into other languages by clicking the “Select Language” button at the top of the screen. This feature allows viewers to read content in Spanish and other languages.  Northside ISD complies with federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, religion, or disability. To request access to (or notify NISD regarding) online information or functionality that is not accessible, contact info@nisd.net or call the communications department at (210) 397-8550.

Introduction

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plans (ARP) Act was signed into law. Through this law, the U.S. Department of Education is providing an additional $121.9 billion for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER III Fund). This legislation awards grants to state educational agencies (SEAs) to provide local educational agencies (LEAs) with emergency relief funds to address the impact COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools across the nation.

Texas received $11.2 billion in ESSER III funds from the Act. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) reserves the allowable 0.5% for agency administration of the formula grants and discretionary projects. TEA budgets the majority of the 9.5% discretionary set-aside to implement a series of interdisciplinary projects to continue distance learning and to upgrade remote learning resources in a variety of school settings. These projects serve all student groups including disadvantaged populations. The projects incorporate various strategies through a multi-tiered system of supports and research-based approaches to meeting the needs of different student populations.

The remaining funds are used for state-level activities to address issues caused by COVID-19. Northside Independent School District (NISD) has an ESSER III allocation of $173,011,162 for the three-year period ending September 2024.

This plan describes how NISD provides a Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services for all schools (RIPICS).This report template complies with all reporting requirements of the ARP  Act (Public Law 117-2), the ESSER III grant terms, conditions, and assurances (CFDA  Number 84.425U), and the interim final rule established by the United States Department of  Education, 86 FR 21195.

Maintaining Health and Safety

Overview of ESSER Requirements 

As per ESSER, U.S. Department of Education, and Texas Education Agency requirements, the district’s Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan must include how it will maintain the health and safety of students, educators, and other school and LEA staff, and the extent to which it has adopted policies or practices and a description of any such policies or practices on each of the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) safety recommendations, including: the universal and correct wearing of masks; handwashing and respiratory etiquette; cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities, including improving ventilation; contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine, in collaboration with the state, local,  territorial, or Tribal health departments; diagnostic and screening testing; efforts to provide vaccinations to educators, other staff, and students, if eligible; appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities with respect to health and safety policies or practices; and coordination with state and local health officials.

Public Comment & Stakeholder Input

This plan was developed in July 2021 in consultation with stakeholders after soliciting public comment via electronic surveys, public board meetings, Federal Program Advisory Council, Northside Communication Network, and various other groups. NISD will continue to seek public input on the Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services (RIPICS) Plan. Stakeholders include, but are not limited to the following groups: students; parents; families; school and district administrators (including special education administrators); and teachers, principals, school leaders, other educators, school staff, and stakeholders representing the interests of children with disabilities, English language learners, children experiencing homelessness, children in foster care, migrant students, children who are incarcerated, and other underserved students. NISD continues to seek public input on the RIPICS plan and provided opportunities for public input through surveys in English, and Spanish. Below is a timeline (added 9/22/21) of when stakeholder input was solicited/occurred and public notice was provided:

Ongoing Review & Publication of Plan

The plan became effective on July 19, 2021 and was posted to the LEA website https://www.nisd.net/district/required-postings. Every six months, NISD reviews and updates the plans to ensure they align with the latest guidance from the CDC and  state and local governments. If revisions are needed to the plan, public input will be solicited and stakeholders will be meaningfully consulted. The revised version of the plan will then be posted on the website. The chart below provides information on this ongoing process:

Maintaining Health and Safety

NISD continues to follow the recommendations and guidance issued by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as local public health guidance. 

Cleaning

• COVID-19 approved disinfectants are used.
• Surfaces and common spaces are cleaned regularly. Hand sanitizing stations are placed in common areas.
• Schools have a water bottle filling station available for students.

Student Health

• If your student is sick, please keep them home.
• If a student is sent home from school with COVID-19 symptoms, guidance will be given to the parent/guardian(s).
• Students are encouraged to wash and sanitize hands.
• Everyone is encouraged to cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow, covering their mouth and nose with their arm.

Transportation

• Buses are cleaned regularly. Personal protective equipment is distributed upon request.
• Drivers will maximize the circulation of outside air to the extent practicable. 
• Parents are encouraged to educate their children  on general safety rules and on positive behavior at bus stops. 

Cafeteria

• School cafeterias are open to all students. Additional school-specific plans for meal services are followed.

Extracurricular Activities

• Schools offer extracurricular activities consistent with student, classroom, and school building guidelines.
• Before and after school programs operate when school is open to students.
• Programs adhere to the current public health guidance.

Athletics

• Health and safety guidelines for athletics are provided by the University Interscholastic League. Information compiled for the guidelines is carefully reviewed and vetted by NISD staff.

Face Masks 

• Are not mandated but are available upon request 
• Must be appropriate for school, non-offensive, not considered derogatory or otherwise disrespectful to team members or visitors and be professionally appropriate as outlined in the District’s dress code policy
• Should not be loose material that could get caught in machinery or cause injury

Cleaning and Maintaining Healthy Facilities

• Each facility must follow custodial requirements for the daily cleaning of any portion of a facility. 
• Custodial training will also be provided throughout the year.

Efforts to Provide Vaccinations to Educators, Other Staff, and Students

NISD continues to work with various vaccine providers to schedule voluntary vaccination clinics for students, staff, and the community.  

Appropriate Accommodations for Children with Disabilities

•  Individual Health Plans, Section 504 Individual Accommodation Plans (IAPs), and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) continue to be followed.
• Students continue to receive their specialized instruction and related services (if applicable) through special education teachers and related service providers.

Continuity of Services

Academic

All NISD students attend in-person instruction in accordance with the district calendar.  

In addition to the high-quality, rigorous Tier I instruction provided to all students in NISD, we are committed to bridging the learning gap created by the COVID-19 learning loss. NISD will address learning loss among students and implement evidence-based activities to meet the comprehensive needs of students including  Accelerated Instruction, tutoring, etc. 

Social and Emotional Needs of Students, Staff and Families

The COVID-19 pandemic increased feelings of stress and isolation among students, staff, and families. NISD continues to be responsive to these social and emotional needs by providing increased access to personnel such as school counselors to respond to high-risk needs. Additional new initiatives provide direct support for social and emotional needs:   

• Social Emotional Education and Development with Students (SEEDS) - A partnership with Communities in Schools. A student in need of mental health support can be referred to the SEEDS team for clinical mental health support. Counseling sessions are provided with wraparound service support provided by a social worker.
• Re-Engagement Team - A partnership with Communities in Schools, this program focuses on re-engaging families and increasing attendance.
• Nxt Level Opportunity Youth Center - A partnership with the City of San Antonio, this program will assist youth ages 16-24 years old who need access to GED, workforce development, or social service support.
• The Care Clinic offers free confidential, individual counseling services to any Northside employees. Up to six, 45-minute sessions are provided. Care Clinic therapists are Licensed Professional Counselors or Licensed Professional Counselor Associates (LPC or LPC-Associate) and work in Northside ISD as Professional School Counselors. Spanish speaking therapists available.

Questions

Questions regarding this plan may be directed to your school administration. 

Translation Procedures

Northside ISD takes practical steps to ensure parents, guardians, and other English Learners have access and equal opportunity to important school-wide and district-wide information.

Procedure: As campuses or departments need translated documents, please contact the Bilingual & ESL Department at 210-397-8173.  Allow two weeks for translation, depending on the size of the file.  Once documents are translated, the Bilingual & ESL Translation Point of Contact will forward the document to the requesting individual.

Examples include, but are not limited to, information related to:

Non-examples include, but are not limited to, information related to: 

On an ongoing basis, Northside ISD will assess changes in demographics, types of services or other needs that may require a reevaluation of this procedure. In addition, Northside ISD will regularly assess the efficacy of these procedures used for the delivery of language assistance.  The Northside ISD website can be translated into other languages by clicking the “Select Language” button at the top of the screen. This feature allows viewers to read content in Spanish and other languages.