Petroplex News

Ector County ISD students have been returning to school for in-person instruction and Superintendent Scott Muri said the district has experienced "significant success."

The district took a four-week, phased-in approach to reopening schools, said Muri in an email. 

"We are very pleased with our decision to return to in-person instruction as we are experiencing significant success," Muri said.

Ector County ISD offered families three options for their students: face-to-face, hybrid, virtual, said Muri.

"Approximately 50% of our students engage in one form of in-person learning (face-to-face or hybrid)," Muri said. "We have extensive measures in place to ensure students and staff remain safe throughout the school day. Early indicators reflect that our students in the face-to-face and hybrid learning models are outperforming our virtual students. We hope to transition more of our students to an in-person mode of learning as local health conditions permit."

According to Muri, the safety protocols the school has put in place have ensured safety.

"Our data indicate that our safety measures have proven to be effective. Our students and staff have been exemplary in how they have followed safety procedures enabling us to remain safe throughout the first five weeks of school," said Muri. "These investments in safety protocols and procedures have resulted in more students engaged in face-to-face and hybrid learning, which has resulted in more students experiencing academic success."

Those safety protocols include the four week phase-in process, which Muri said allows the district "to monitor local health conditions while bringing back small groups of students over time."

Other protocols include requiring all students fourth grade and higher to wear masks and encouraging pre-kindergarten through third grade students to also wear masks. Students are also always socially distanced, movement around campus is limited and lunch is now served in classrooms. Arrivals and dismissals are also staggered, shared spaces such as lockers and water fountains are off limits, and hand washing stations and/or hand sanitizers are accessible throughout the school, said Muri.

"All staff that engage with students (teachers, administrators, counselors, nurses, etc.) wear both a mask and face shield, a health check is completed by staff every morning, custodial team cleans high touch areas regularly, and much more," said Muri. "We have invested significant time, planning, and dollars into the safety and security of our students and staff. Our data clearly indicate that this approach is extremely effective."

Students and staff have been cooperative and helpful in complying with the safety precautions.

"I am extremely proud of our students and staff for their compliance with all safety procedures," said Muri. "Not only have they complied, but they have also been helpful in improving safety procedures as they notice areas that could be better. For example, the face shields that employees wear were not very comfortable, so a suggestion was made to explore different options. The district conducted further research and identified an alternate face shield and provided the option for staff."

Ector County ISD demonstrates that a safe return to school is possible. In fact, the school's plan was selected as one of the five district plans shared throughout the county by the AASA The School Superintendent's Association and Transcend.