3/12/20 Region 1 Conference Call With Valley Superintendents

On Thursday, March 12, 2020 at approximately 1:00 p.m. Region 1 Education Service Center hosted a conference call for superintendents to provide an update and answer questions about the COVID-19 pandemic. 
An administrator from the Hidalgo County Health Department provided the following information:

• Despite recent social media posts, there are zero confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the RGV or the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. 
• Twenty-three cases are confirmed in Texas, and all but one are related to travel to a high-risk area.  
• There is currently no public on-demand testing. 
• There is only testing for individuals showing symptoms and those who have traveled to high-risk areas
• The UT system extended spring break by one week, and Texas A&M extended spring break by 3 days
• Region 1 recommended communicating with UIL about travel to contests and advised against traveling outside of Texas

The Hidalgo County Health Department made the following recommendations:

• The school should coordinate with the city and county Emergency Management Coordinator. Consider using H1H1 or Influenza policies that the District has already developed
• Communicate with UIL for information on sports or academic contest changes
• Pay special attention to bus routes. Disinfect more often and assess people who appear sick
• Beware of scams from disinfecting services. 
• Only use chemicals that are approved by the FDA and USDA
• Schedule regular handwashing events for elementary students, three or more times per day

School district superintendents shared the following plans:

• Some districts have decided to limit student travel. Some canceled trips outside of the Valley, one canceled an out of state trip, and four schools decided to cancel travel to the state powerlifting meet
• Most schools reported they considered limiting travel
• No district said they plan to close their school

Raymondville ISD is implementing the recommendations made by the Health Department Administrator.  District administration has discussed limiting travel outside of the Valley. We will continue to communicate with UIL regarding contest schedules and related travel. The District works with TEA, UIL, and health agencies at the local and state level. I will keep you informed as this situation develops.

Thank you, 

Stetson Roane