Failure to comply with the requirements for face coverings will be treated as a violation of the dress code and may result in appropriate consequences, subject to all other applicable rules or laws related to the administration of discipline in the school setting.

In accordance with guidance provided by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the district has the ability to require that a student attend remote learning at home if the student outright refuses or continually refuses to comply with the required public health procedures, including wearing a face covering as required by LTISD’s protocols. 

Requests for accommodations to the Return to School Protocols, including the face covering requirements, will be considered for those individuals who have a documented medical or disability-related condition that may prevent them from being able to comply.  

Parents seeking an accommodation for their student must contact their campus principal. The campus principal will provide the parent with an accommodation request packet that must be completed.  This packet will include a verification form to be filled out by a physician. Once the information is returned, student requests for an accommodation, including the face covering requirements, will be considered and addressed on an individual case-by-case basis through either the student’s 504 committee, ARD committee, or administratively, as applicable. 

Governor Abbott issued Executive Order GA-29 requiring the use of face coverings during the COVID-19 disaster.  Subsequently, on July 7, 2020, the Texas Education Agency (“TEA”) issued public health guidance regarding returning to school during the COVID-19 disaster, and made clear that the requirements relating to wearing face coverings under GA-29 are applicable to public schools.  In order to comply with these mandates and also to maintain the health and safety of all students and staff, Lake Travis ISD has developed protocols requiring the use of a face covering while at school or on school grounds.  Please refer to Lake Travis ISD’s Return to School Protocols for COVID-19 for the details of these requirements.

Yes, students are welcome and encouraged to wear face coverings in circumstances where they are not required. The District wants students to feel comfortable, safe and supported at school.

If an individual who has been in a school is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19, the school must close off areas that are heavily used by the individual with the lab-confirmed case (student, teacher, or staff) until the non-porous surfaces in those areas can be disinfected, unless more than three days have already passed since that person was on campus.  If conditions necessitate closure of a campus, according to TEA guidelines, the campus may be closed for no longer than five consecutive days, unless the state orders a longer mandatory shutdown.

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 school if a lab-confirmed COVID-19 case is identified among students, teachers or staff who participate on any on campus activities.  Any individuals who are either: (a) are lab-confirmed to have COVID-19; or (b) experience the symptoms of COVID-19 must stay at home throughout the infection period, and cannot return to campus until the school system screens the individual to determine if specified re-entry conditions have been met.  Students will access instructional content at home during the quarantine period.

This is not a decision that was made by the LTISD Board or district administration. On Tuesday, July 7, 2020, The Texas Education Agency announced comprehensive guidelines for the 2020-21 school year and published the SY 20-23 Public Health Guidance document. The TEA guidelines contain a number of requirements. Three requirements are worth noting. First, Texas public school districts must open their school buildings this fall for in-person instruction. Second, we are required to offer a full day, five day a week traditional school day option. Third, we may not limit the number of students who choose to attend in-person. Local school boards and superintendents may not choose, independently or locally, to open with a 100% remote learning option for students. As a result, LTISD has determined that two options will be available to students this next year:  in-person learning (full day, five days a week), and remote learning. Another consideration was to offer a third option that included some type of alternating day or week option. However, the TEA guidelines provide for a possible loss of funding for school districts that do not provide on-campus instruction every day or if students must be on a part-time schedule to limit the number of students in a classroom at one time. In addition, this option was less favorable for much of our staff and our community as it posed additional challenges for scheduling, childcare, etc. 

We are in the process of considering many different safeguards and precautions to mitigate the spread of illness within our schools. We will follow TEA requirements and strive to do so in a way that will keep our students and staff as safe as possible.

Yes, LTISD has MERV-8 (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) commercial grade pleated filters currently in place. We are in the process of upgrading these filters to the MERV-13 commercial grade pleated filter. The higher the MERV rating, the more effectively the filter traps small particles. These filters are commonly installed in food and beverage, healthcare, hospitality and industrial facilities to remove contaminants from the air stream and improve air quality. Additionally, our staff have been consulting with MEP Engineering and Syntergy to recalibrate the outside air units at each school to run longer each day and help improve indoor air quality. It is also important to note that LTISD’s 2018 Bond Program allocated over $12 million to upgrade the District’s HVAC systems. Campuses that had major upgrades to its systems include Lake Travis High School, Lake Travis High School Annex, Hudson Bend Middle School, Lake Travis Elementary School, Lakeway Elementary School, Bee Cave Elementary School and Lake Pointe Elementary School. The last of the HVAC campus projects are being completed this summer.

Transportation services will continue to be provided for all who qualify. Bus transportation is provided for all special education students and eligible general education students.

Yes, the District currently uses the factory issued EZ Kleen mesh filters. LTISD is in the process of upgrading all of its air filters to the MERV-6 (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) commercial grade pleated filters.

Social distancing will not be observed on our buses.  However, students will be assigned specific seats, and a seating chart will be maintained by the bus driver.  Our bus drives and students will be required to wear face coverings while on the bus. Hand sanitizer will be provided when boarding the bus. Students are required to remain seated at all times and keep their hands and arms to themselves. Students should not touch each other or share any items.  School buses will be cleaned and disinfected twice per day.

We will implement increased signage around our campuses promoting disease mitigation strategies, increased cleaning and sanitation practices, as well as frequent reminders of hand hygiene and social distancing. Additional custodial staff have been contracted to assist with the implementation of increased sanitation practices on campus.

We have ordered plexiglass shields for front office reception areas. In addition, we are exploring a possible vendor for clear face shields for staff and students. We will update this information as it becomes available.

LTISD will comply with all health and safety mandates established by the health department and Texas Education Agency. We will also continue to assess what other heightened health and safety measures are appropriate and possible in the educational setting.

Yes. All staff members will receive COVID-19 prevention training prior to the opening of school. All students will receive instruction on health protocols related to minimizing the spread of COVID-19.

All staff, students, and visitors must self-screen prior to entering any district building or facility for the following symptoms:  cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle pain or body aches, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, nausea or vomiting, congested or runny nose, diarrhea, feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit, or known close contact with a person who is lab confirmed to have COVID-19. Any individual experiencing any of these symptoms must stay home. In addition, thermometers are readily available at all district buildings for anyone who wishes to take their temperature.

Parents could expect class sizes to be smaller than typical years due to students participating in remote learning. An approximate number or range of students in each class is difficult to predict until LTISD receives commitment forms from families. Once this preliminary data is available, the District can begin planning master schedules and determining class sizes.

Cafeterias will be open to serve breakfast and lunch daily. All school meals will be served by employees, meaning student self-serve tables will not be used.  Safety and health measures will be adjusted based on current guidelines and conditions.