• The health and safety of the Waller ISD family continues to be the district’s top priority. Following the global COVID-19 pandemic that drastically impacted normal school operations, we are pleased to return to a more traditional plan for the 2022-2023 school year. While there are still safeguards in place to help protect our students and staff, campus procedures for 2022-2023 will be more familiar to families, similar to those set prior to COVID-19. 

    This page will help answer many frequently asked questions about how COVID-19 will be addressed moving forward. Please note that the procedures are subject to change based on guidance and orders that may be issued by the State of Texas, Texas Education Agency, and local officials as well as local conditions within WISD and each of its campuses. 

    The content found here is a summary and supplement document to WISD’s Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Service Plan.

    Page Revised 8/26/22

    TABLE OF CONTENTS 
    SELF-SCREENING     
    FACE MASKS/COVERINGS 
    CLEANING/SANITIZING 
    VISITORS 
    DRINKING WATER 
    INDIVIDUALS WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 (STAFF/STUDENT/VISITOR) 
    COVID-19 TESTING 
    COVID-19 VACCINATIONS 
    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 
    RESOURCES 

    SELF-SCREENING
    All WISD staff, students, and visitors are expected to self-screen daily for symptoms of COVID-19 or any communicable disease before entering a district facility. If any symptoms that are unusual to the individual are present, please do not come to a WISD facility until you have consulted with a school nurse via telephone or email, or licensed medical professional. 

    Individuals waiting for COVID-19 test results due to symptoms or individuals currently experiencing any of the symptoms listed that are new and/or not normal for them, should stay home and consider seeking medical care and/or COVID-19 testing. Symptoms consistent with COVID-19 include:

    • Feeling feverish or a temperature equal to or greater than 100.0F
    • Loss of taste or smell
    • Cough 
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Shortness of breath
    • Fatigue
    • Headache
    • Chills
    • Sore throat
    • Congestion or runny nose
    • Shaking or exaggerated shivering
    • Significant muscle pain or ache
    • Diarrhea
    • Nausea or vomiting

    FACE MASKS/COVERINGS
    Face masks are not required. As part of good practice, individuals are asked to maintain social distancing to the extent possible.

    CLEANING/SANITIZING
    WISD will continue to provide thorough cleaning and sanitizing services for all facilities using antibacterial and antiviral products, and medical-grade disinfectant as needed.

    VISITORS
    Visitors will be allowed at all schools and offices during regular work/school days and during scheduled events (see event-specific information sent by your child’s campus and/or teacher). All visitors are expected to self-screen for any communicable illness before coming to a WISD facility. If a communicable illness is suspected, please reschedule your visit. All visitors will be required to present a valid ID to check-in to campus and are asked to maintain social distancing to the extent possible during their visit. Hand sanitizer will be available at all visitor entrances. Appointments are recommended for meetings with campus staff. Virtual meetings may be available for certain meetings such as parent/teacher conferences, ARDs, etc. If a virtual meeting is desired, please inquire with your child’s teacher or campus administrator.

    DRINKING WATER
    For sanitary reasons, WISD recommends that all students and staff bring a large water bottle with a flip or screw-top lid to school/work each day. Bottle fillers will be turned on where available. Water fountains will be turned on for use as needed, however personal water bottles are preferred.

    INDIVIDUALS WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 (STAFF/STUDENT/VISITOR)

    • Everyone, regardless of vaccination status:
      • If symptoms are present, stay home for 5 days from the date of symptom onset with the first day of symptoms counted as day 0.
      • If no symptoms are present, stay home for 5 days from the date of positive test with the date the positive test was conducted counted as day 0.
      • If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house.
      • Continue to wear a mask around others for 5 additional days.
      • If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves.
    • State rules require schools to exclude students with certain illnesses from school for certain periods of time. For example, if a child has a fever over 100.0 F, he or she must stay out of school until fever-free for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications. Students with diarrheal illnesses must stay home until they are diarrhea-free without use of diarrhea suppressing medications for 24 hours. A full list of conditions for which the school must exclude children can be obtained from the school nurse. More detailed information on student health procedures may be found in the WISD Student Handbook under the Absences/Attendance and Illnesses sections. Any illness-related absence should be reported to the campus nurse.
    • Staff who test positive for COVID-19 must report it to WISD via their direct supervisor.
    • Visitors who test positive for COVID-19 within 72 hours of visiting a WISD facility are asked to report the case to the campus principal or facility supervisor.

    COVID-19 TESTING
    Individuals who feel they need to be tested for COVID-19 should contact their medical provider or seek a local clinic for services. Most COVID-19 testing is conducted at no cost to the patient. For assistance finding a COVID-19 testing site, please contact a school nurse or go online to the Texas Department of State Health Services COVID-19 Testing Information.

    COVID-19 VACCINATIONS
    Everyone age 5+ is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at no cost. The vaccine is not required for WISD students or staff, however it is strongly encouraged for eligible individuals. The CDC has proven that the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing or drastically diminishing the effects of COVID-19. WISD occasionally works in collaboration with local providers to host in-district vaccination clinics. In-district vaccination clinics will be posted on wallerisd.net and official WISD social media. To find current vaccine information and locate a provider, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services COVID-19 Vaccination Information webpage. Please consult with your family physician to make the decision that is best for each eligible individual.

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

    • Will those in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 be required to quarantine? 
      No. Those who have been exposed to COVID-19 are not required to quarantine, however, WISD encourages individuals to make informed decisions and consider the health and safety of those who may be around them at school/work. For example, if you have been exposed to COVID-19 you may choose to wear a mask as a precaution to help protect those around you. As a reference, close contact determinations are generally based on guidance outlined by the CDC.

    • Can a student/staff come to school/work if they have symptoms after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine? 
      Some individuals report experiencing mild symptoms 24-48 hours after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. If you have not had close contact with a known positive case in the previous 14 days, you may come to work with mild symptoms of low-grade fever (below 100.0F), fatigue, headache, chills and/or muscle or body aches, which is common during the first 48 hours. If symptoms persist for more than 2 days, the individual should isolate and consider testing. Symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell are NOT consistent with post-vaccination symptoms, and employees with these symptoms or fever >100.0F should isolate and consider testing.

    RESOURCES

    Please note that the procedures are subject to change based on guidance and orders that may be issued by the State of Texas, Texas Education Agency, and local officials as well as local conditions within WISD and each of its campuses.
  • Detalles de COVID-19 2022-2023 en Español
  • ESSER III Relief Grant Information