Bullard ISD superintendent releases statement

March 19, 2020

Lol sorry about that — here’s one more for ya

March 19, 2020 - Update #2

Dear Bullard ISD Families and Community,

Just a short while ago, Governor Abbott issued an executive order outlining several steps he is implementing to slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout the State of Texas. One piece of his executive order is that schools are to close through April 3, 2020. Additionally, Governor Abbott stated that he may extend this mandatory closure as we approach April 3.

Bullard ISD will be closed through April 3, 2020, at a minimum. 

Bullard ISD has been working diligently throughout the past week to ensure that we are able to provide instructional continuity for our students. We plan to announce our plans tomorrow, Friday, March 20, 2020. Our goal is to provide instructional continuity for our students that may take place at home as family commitments will allow. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has outlined the need for all communities to implement a social distancing protocol. We want to reiterate a request to our broader community to take the following reasonable precautions to prevent the spread of the illness: 

-Do not shake hands 

-Wash your hands regularly

-Limit movement within the community, especially avoiding crowded places and maintaining 6 ft of distance between people.

-If you are moving around in the community, do not 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. 

-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

I realize that this is a difficult time for our students, parents, and staff. Schools are often a place for our students where they can grow and flourish. For many of our older students, they may now be tasked with watching their younger siblings, and now their learning has transitioned to home. I ask that we all – parents and staff – have patience and understanding of the demands that may have changed for our students.

Additionally, our Bullard ISD staff look at each day as an opportunity to positively affect the lives of students, and I know that they are also struggling with an environment that does not have them working with their students. When we started this school year, none of our staff imagined that we would be transitioning to an “at-home” environment. I ask that our students and parents have patience and understanding for our staff. I assure you that their commitment to our students does not and will not waiver! However, they are navigating a new educational environment, and I know they would appreciate support from our community at this time. If you have the opportunity to reach out to a teacher, I encourage you to offer words of support and encouragement. 

Finally, I want to say how impressed I am with our faculty, staff, and community. During this difficult time, I have witnessed countless individuals reaching out to see how they can support the school district, our students, and our city. The commitment to take care of each other is amazing, and I hope that we will maintain that throughout the next several weeks.

I continue to pray daily for our students, staff, and community and hope that you will join me in doing so. 

Sincerely,

Jack Lee

Superintendent