SAN ANTONIO – Update 4/17/20:
On Friday, Governor Greg Abbott announced that schools in Texas will remain closed through the end of the academic year. Classes will continue online only.
“Schools shall remain temporarily closed to in-person classroom attendance by students and shall not recommence before the end of the 2019-2020 school year. Public education teachers and staff are encouraged to continue to work remotely from home if possible, but may return to schools to conduct remote video instruction, as well as perform administrative duties, under the strict terms required by the Texas Education Agency. Private schools and institutions of higher education should establish similar terms to allow teachers and staff to return to schools to conduct remote video instruction and perform administrative duties when it is not possible to do so remotely from home.”
Following the announcement, Texas State Teachers Association President Noel Candelaria issued the following statement:
“We applaud Gov. Abbott for ordering all school buildings to remain closed for the remainder of the spring semester, a step that the Texas State Teachers Association called on the governor to take on April 1. This finally removes uncertainty for hundreds of Texas communities and, health experts say, will help slow the spread of the coronavirus. This is an important health and safety measure for millions of Texans because experts don’t know when this pandemic will subside. Meanwhile, teachers will continue to work with their students to provide lessons and activities -- remotely -- as they have been doing for several weeks."
San Antonio-area school districts are ensuring students still have access to food during the closures by providing free, curbside meal services. (Click here for a map of where students can get meals.)
Previous story (**which is now out-dated)
San Antonio-area school districts are announcing extended closures in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
IDEA Public Schools announced Thursday that all of its public school campuses will be closed for the remainder of the school year and will continue to offer distance learning.
IDEA’s school buildings will remain closed except for meals and childcare through August, school officials say.
Abbott also announced previously that several schools would continue to be closed until May 4, unless otherwise extended.
Orders from San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff state that all non-essential businesses close and residents remain in their homes, except for crucial errands. That order is expected to run through at least April 9.
Still, San Antonio-area school districts are ensuring students still have access to food during the closures by providing free, curbside meal services. (Click here for a map of where students can get meals.)
The closures have left a lot of parents and caregivers home with kids who need something to do. If you’re one of the millions of Americans stuck at home check out this list of 20 websites to help keep kids busy.
For the latest in your district, Go Public has direct links to the COVID-19 pages for each of the 19 San Antonio-area ISDs and each district has information regarding its specific school closings and services.
Here are the known districts closing schools through May 4, unless otherwise noted:
- Pre-K 4 SA
Private schools may have more flexibility. It’s best to check with your school, but here are the known private and charter schools closures:
- Atonement Academy
- Brooks Academies of Texas
- Concordia Lutheran School (Child Care Center is open)
- Hill County Montessori
- IDEA Public Schools - Closed remainder of school year until August; continues to offer distance learning.
- Positive Solutions Charter School
- Saint Paul Catholic Learning Center
- School of Excellence in Education
- School of Science and Technology
- Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School
- Southwest Preparatory Schools
- St. Luke’s Episcopal School
IDEA Public schools will be closed until further notice, according to a news release. “All planned events, athletics, field trips, after-school programs and other campus activities have been canceled for the remainder of the year."
San Antonio school districts providing free, curbside meal service for students during closure
COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new virus, stands for coronavirus disease 2019. The disease first appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, but spread around the world in early 2020, causing the World Health Organization to declare a pandemic in March.
MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE FROM KSAT: