TO: Northwest ISD Students, Parents/Caregivers, and Staff

FROM: Ryder Warren, Superintendent

SUBJECT: Superintendent Update


Now that we have officially reached the end of our first grading period, I am sending this update a little early this week in an attempt to (hopefully) send some good news to our NISD families and staff. As I state in every update, I cannot be more proud of our students, staff, or families. Everyone is keeping with our mantra during this COVID-crazy time … we ARE getting through this – TOGETHER!

Our students and instructional staff are working hard to regain learning ground lost from COVID. Their work is impressive, and I am hopeful that the momentum will continue through the next three quarters. In addition to the efforts with schoolwork, our crew has done an amazing job taking care of themselves and each other, and this fact is what drives the good news this week. We have now gone 26 days in a row with an overall district COVID positivity rate lower than 1%. We have a few campuses that might be a little above that, but most are at the 1% or lower range and have been for several weeks.

Because of these facts, it is time to move into our next phase of NISD Health and Safety Protocols. Please read the following information carefully, so we will be on the same page as to our expectations for the health and safety of all. Please know we will continue to monitor our COVID numbers every day, and also know we reserve the right to change or modify these protocols as the need arises or if new challenges come into the picture.

The main two goals right now are to continue to keep everyone safe and well, but also return to a few of our normal activities. That is why NISD will continue to analyze the situation and will modify the district’s Health and Safety Protocols as deemed necessary.

So – as of Monday, October 18, the following Health and Safety Protocols will be in effect.

Indoor School Events Resuming
Beginning Monday, October 18, indoor school events will resume. This will include activities such as indoor pep rallies, PTA meetings, award ceremonies, and carnivals. The only activity we are still pressing the “pause button” on is school dances. Due to the nature of dances, we just do not feel it is in our students’ or staff’s best interest for schools to be sponsoring those right now. That being said, it is still my hope that our high schools will be able to host prom by the end of the year. I know that is a special occasion for our seniors; however, other dances in the meantime will not be held due to the unnecessary risk of such an event. 

Visitors on Campus
The update to our Health and Safety Protocols also includes a tiered system that allows volunteers and visitors in our schools if the risk of COVID transmission is low (positive cases less than 5% of the total campus population, including both students and staff). As a precaution, we have not been allowing visitors in our schools as we monitored and adjusted protocols for the first nine weeks of school. I know this is something our parents have been missing – especially at the elementary level. Based on our schools’ current percentages of positive cases, all schools will be able to open their doors to visitors and volunteers when our new protocols take effect on October 18.

I love that our families are supportive of our schools and enjoy spending time with their child at school, and it saddens me to think that we have whole grade levels of kindergarten through second-grade families who don’t really know what a normal school year is like. I am excited to be able to extend this opportunity to welcome parents and caregivers back into our schools. However, know that we are opening our doors to visitors cautiously and on a campus-by-campus basis.

The transmission risk percentage we are tracking is based on your school, not the district as a whole, so please don’t be surprised if visitors are allowed to attend an event at one school, but don’t have the same opportunity at another school due to a higher number of positive COVID cases. All visitors are also strongly encouraged to wear masks and socially distance while in our schools.

Visitors at Lunch
Each NISD school is unique, with different student enrollment counts, schedules, and cafeteria arrangements. Our schools have analyzed their lunchrooms and available space to determine the best process and separate seating area for safely allowing lunch visitors. Our schools have different processes and different capacities for lunchtime visitors, so please follow the specific instructions your school will communicate in order to safely eat lunch with your child.

As always, thank you for supporting our schools and helping to keep our students safe.

Ryder Warren, Superintendent
Northwest Independent School District