Eagle Pass Independent School District Coronavirus Emergency Board Meeting Results in One Week Extension of Spring Break Until March 20th and Temporary Suspension of UIL Activities Between March 16-29th
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2020
The Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees held an Emergency Meeting on Friday, March 13, 2020 to discuss the impact of Coronavirus on the over 16,000 students and about 3,000 school employees, as well as the community.
At the meeting, Superintendent Samuel Mijares provided an update to the Board of Trustees regarding the status of daily telephonic conferences held with the Texas Department of Health and Human Services and local governmental agencies concerning the Coronavirus (Covid-19) impact on the community. Mijares also noted that the EPISD Administration, principals, and staff have been having daily meetings to plan and develop the school district’s response to the Coronavirus threat to the school district’s community.
Superintendent Mijares recommended to the Board of Trustees that the EPISD extend the current Spring Break by one week until March 20, 2020 and adopt the University Interscholastic League (UIL) directive that all school UIL activities and events be suspended from March 16-29, 2020.
Superintendent Mijares’ recommendations were implemented by the Board of Trustees and upon the advise of Mijares agreed to meet again on Friday, March 20th, to reevaluate and assess the status of the Coronavirus threat to the local school district’s community.
Earlier on March 13th, Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a “State of Disaster” in Texas due to the Coronavirus threat to its citizens and President Donald J. Trump declared the Coronavirus a “National Emergency” and a threat to all Americans.
In a letter issued by Superintendent Mijares to EPISD families on March 13th, he stated that “because of the rapidly evolving nature of this situation and out of an abundance of caution, Eagle Pass ISD is joining San Antonio and area districts to close school the week of March 16-20 to help prevent exposure to students, staff and the community.” Mijares added that “proactive measures are superior to reactive measures.”
Mijares noted that this decision “presents significant difficulties to working parents who have young, school-aged children. But we are hopeful that these measures will better ensure the long-term health and safety of children, staff, and the larger community.”
Mijares added that “all extracurricular activities, practices, and athletic events are suspended while we are closed and additionally all UIL events have been suspended until March 29, 2020.”
Mijares also stated that “the district is finalizing logistics on distance learning options for students if necessary. More information and guidance will be made available on our website by the middle of next week. In addition, our Child Nutrition Department will be announcing procedures for the distribution of food to address children’s nutritional needs while school is out.”
Mijares noted that “all facilities have undergone extensive cleaning and we will also take this week to further clean schools and buses and resupply custodial and nursing supplies.”
Mijares added that “at this time, we do not anticipate extending the school year in order to “make up” the days from this closure.”
Mijares concluded that “this is a rapidly developing issue. We will remain in close communication with local and state health authorities and will provide updates to our community.”
