Grape Creek ISD and Surrounding Districts Extend School Closures

SAN ANGELO, TX – Grape Creek ISD is joining the list of schools that are opting to extend school closures for an additional week. These measures are expected to help slow down the spread of Coronavirus across the state.

“Our health officials report that cases are continuing to spread within the state, and an occurrence of confirmed cases in our county may be likely,” said Superintendent Angie Smetana in a statement. “Suspending operations at this time will allow us to determine, in coordination with local health officials, whether the virus will continue to show community spread or whether it has been contained.”

Grape Creek ISD is coordinating with other school districts in the county and the district will use the week of March 23 to make any decisions on whether there is a need to extend the suspension further. 

If there is a need to continue the preventative closure of facilities and distance and remote learning after March 27, the district estimates it would likely be for at least one to three more weeks.

“We want to reiterate a request to our broader community to take the following reasonable precautions to prevent the spread of the illness.”

The following precautions are recommended to ensure everyone's safety:

• Don’t shake hands
• Wash your hands regularly
• Limit movement within the community, especially avoiding crowded placed and maintaining 3 to 6 ft of distance between people (at least an arm’s length)
• If you are moving around in the community, don’t congregate in large groups
• For those who have traveled to areas with known COVID-19 cases – both inside and outside of the country – we ask that you self-quarantine and monitor for symptoms. Students who have traveled should plan to stay home for two weeks after arriving home. Please contact your campus to let them know, and this will be considered an excused absence.
• If you suspect you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your health care provider for medical advice.
• Keep your child at home if he/she feels ill, even if you think it is just a cold.
• Do not leave the house if you are ill, except to access medical care

Visit grapecreekisd.net for updated information regarding closures and distance learning.

Irion County ISD and Sonora ISD have also announced they will be extending closures until March 27.

As of Wednesday evening, Bangs, Blanket, Brookesmith, Brownwood, Coleman, Early, Mason, May, Panther Creek, Santa Anna ISD, and Zephyr ISDs announced they will not return to class until April 3.

Ballinger, Blanket, Brady, Christoval, Comstock, Crocket County, Junction, Lohn, Menard, Miles, Robert Lee Sterling City, Veribest, and Winters ISDs have not indicated if they will be extending closures yet.