Some Houston Schools Closed Again Due to COVID-19

A lot changed in just a couple of days at Houston Independent School District.

Face-to-face instruction for the 2020-2021 academic year resumed on Monday. By Tuesday, 16 campuses were temporarily closed again and transitioning back to virtual learning as a precautionary measure. 

Campuses that have temporarily closed are: Foerster, Houston Academy for International Studies, Lewis, Roberts, Daily, Hines-Caldwell, Lanier, Lawson, Pershing, Pilgrim Academy, Piney Point, Valley West, Waltrip, Westbury, and Whittier. Bellaire High School has a presumed coronavirus case, not a confirmed case, a press release from the district said.

Per the Houston ISD Communicable Disease Plan, the campuses will be deep cleaned and disinfected during the closure.

“We have labeled this the ‘Year of Flexibility,’ and we remain focused on meeting each challenge with resiliency, innovation, collaboration and determination to create the best outcomes for all students and staff,” said Grenita Lathan, interim superintendent.

Some parents say the sudden shutdown makes things more confusing. 

“I just don’t think it would be sustainable for the entire community to wait every night for the notice on whether or not there’s school the next day,” said one parent of four HISD students, including two at Lanier Middle School, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Another parent of a sixth-grader at Lanier Middle School told the Chronicle that virtual learning was a challenge and said she does not believe closure is necessary for HISD every time a presumptive positive test arises.

Other area school districts, including Conroe, Aldine, Cy-Fair, Humble, Katy, Klein and Spring Branch ISDs have not closed campuses when COVID-19 cases are reported.