Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan
Revised 6-13-23
Maintaining Health and Safety
A. Universal and correct wearing of masks
On May 18, 2021, Governor Greg Abbott issued an Executive Order prohibiting governmental
entities in Texas — including counties, cities, school districts, public health authorities, or
government officials — from requiring or mandating mask wearing. In accordance with the
Order, masks will be optional for all students, staff and visitors on Wichita Falls ISD campuses.
However, masks are still encouraged for individuals who have not received the COVID-19
vaccine.
B. Physical distancing
Where possible, physical distancing will be implemented. Wichita Falls ISD will continue to
abide by guidance provided by the Texas DSHS and CDC.
C. Handwashing and respiratory etiquette
Wichita Falls ISD will continue to allow time in the school day for handwashing and will
continue to provide direction on appropriate respiratory etiquette and hand sanitizing. Signage
and reminders will be posted in school buildings. Additionally, hand sanitizer will be available at
all campuses for students, staff and visitors.
D. Cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities, including improving ventilation
The Wichita Falls ISD custodial team will continue to ensure the cleanliness of district facilities
by implementing cleaning protocols recommended by the CDC, WHO and OSHA. To the
extent possible, extra measures will be taken to clean high touch and high traffic areas.
E. Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine, in collaboration with
the State, local, territorial, or Tribal health departments
WFISD will follow current guidelines from CDC and the local health department regarding
quarantining. Every campus has a designated isolation area that the nurse or trained campus
staff will be able to safely maintain the health of any student pending parent/guardian pick up.
F. Efforts to provide vaccinations to educators, other staff, and students, if eligible
During the Fall 2021 semester, WFISD collaborated with the Community Healthcare Center to
offer numerous vaccine clinics. To accommodate the needs of students and staff, clinics were
scheduled after school hours. We will continue to work with local healthcare providers and
pharmacies to advertise community vaccine clinics.
G. Appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities with respect to the health
and safety policies
All children and adolescents with a disability are entitled to a free appropriate public education
(FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). Special services are provided based on an
individualized education program (IEP) or a 504 Plan. In order to effectively address the
appropriate health and safety guidelines and the needs of the individual child, the special
education department will utilize creative solutions, on a case-by-case basis. Safety measures
for teachers and staff working with students with disabilities will be considered to ensure
optimal safety for all. Accommodations for students with disabilities with respect to the health
and safety policies, will follow the most current recommendations set forth by the local, county,
state, and federal organizations and the student’s IEP or 504 team. These teams will
determine individual plans to accommodate the needs of students such as social distancing,
mask wearing, mask breaks and/or length of the school day.
Ensuring Continuity of Services
A. Describe how the LEA will ensure continuity of services, including but not limited to
services to address students’ academic needs and students’ and staff’s social,
emotional, mental health, and other needs, which may include student health and food
services:
Even though COVID-19 has been challenging, WFISD continues to move forward responding
to the pandemic and addressing student learning loss. WFISD’s plan has been created to be
flexible as governing authorities and/or health officials update us on present situations of the
environmental conditions affecting our protocols for safety.
ASSESSING AND ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF LEARNING LOSS
○ Use of screeners and/or benchmark assessments to help identify student strengths,
learning gaps and disabilities
○ Provide learning interventions that lead toward student progress and growth.
○ Incorporate Differentiated Learning Platforms that Continuously Adapt for Student
Growth
MORE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF LEARNING LOSS
Wichita Falls ISD will offer additional learning opportunities that may include
○ Before school, during the school, and/or after school, acceleration time to recapture the
learning loss.
○ Development of High Impact Tutoring through various partnerships
○ Summer School
○ Credit Recovery
ADDRESS THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF STUDENT AND STAFF
Wichita Falls ISD will offer additional professional development for staff to help with meeting
the needs of the social and emotional needs of both themselves and students that may include
○ Campus involvement in Capturing Kids Hearts program
○ Teacher training on student engagement
○ Mentoring programs for year 1
○ Social Skills programs for after school clubs
○ Instructional Leadership training for district and campus administrators.
APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS FOR ACCELERATIONS
Key questions for WFISD staff when determining the most appropriate interventions for
acceleration:
SKILL MASTERY - Where is each student in their mastery of critical skills and concepts?
MOST EFFECTIVE - What interventions are most effective?
WHEN - When will accelerated instruction and learning take place?
RIGOROUS INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND TEACHER SUPPORTS
○ Implementation of reading skills for acceleration and remediation support from Early
Learning grades to the Secondary Level.
○ Implementation of math skills for acceleration and remediation support from Early
Learning grades to the Secondary Level.
○ Continuation of NWEA MAP Testing to assess student growth.
○ Address additional learning loss through High Impact Tutoring for ALL students
○ Expose students to a well-rounded education with an emphasis in Fine Arts and
experiential field trips.
○ A renewed emphasis on advanced academic students in preparation for college.
○ Professional development throughout the year to address learning loss and the social
emotional needs of both students and staff.
○ Reading Academy
ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENT POPULATIONS
In addition to general student needs, Wichita Falls ISD will also be ensuring special population
students’ needs are being addressed.
○ Additional inclusion training
○ Sound amplifiers in classrooms
○ Communication devices for centralized programs
○ Refocus on Advanced Academics for the Gifted and Talented students
○ Technology enhancements for bilingual students
Section 18006 of the CARES Act (ESSER I) and Section 315 of the CRSSA Act (ESSER II)
require, to the greatest extent practicable, entities that receive funds to continue to pay their
employees and contractors during the period of any disruptions or closures related to
coronavirus. Further, Section 18003(d)(12) of the CARES Act, Section 313(d)(14) of the
CRRSA Act, and Section 2001(e)(2)(R) of the ARP Act (ESSER III) allow ESSER funds to
support “other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of
services in local education agencies and continuing to employ existing staff of the LEA.”
○ The LEA will use ESSER funds to pay teacher salaries, upgrade HVAC systems, and
other activities that will be needed to maintain the operation of and continuity of services
for our students and staff in WFISD.
*WFISD’s Plan is contingent upon CDC guidance, state and local updates as environmental
conditions change.
Public Comment
A. Describe how the LEA sought public comment on its plan, and how it took those
public comments into account in the development of its plan. Note, the ARP requires
that LEAs seek public comment for each 60-day revision to the plan:
The plan was made available for public comment at the May 25, 2021 board meeting, as well
as input at a June 1st stakeholder meeting, at the June 3rd District Advisory Meeting, and
again at the June 15th board meeting. In addition, a public ThoughtExchange was developed
for community input from May 10-17, district and curriculum leaders on May 5th, May 11th,
May 13th, May 20th, and May 26th, campus administrators on May 13th-29th, and final board
meeting on Jun 15, 2021. The plan will be reviewed every six months.
B. Describe how the LEA ensured that the plan is in an understandable and uniform
format; is to the extent practicable written in a language that parents can understand or,
if not practicable to provide written translations to a parent with limited English
proficiency, will be orally translated for such a parent; and upon request by a parent
who is an individual with a disability as defined by the ADA, will be provided in an
alternative format accessible to that parent:
The plan is available in Spanish or other languages needed for this community in a written
format.
The plan will be available in an accessible format for people with disabilities, upon request to
Ashley Thomas (athomas@wfisd.net).
The plan will be posted on the district website.