Posted on a huge Fort Worth Facebook group.
From Texas Representative Craig Goldman:
Over the last few days, I've received quite a few phone calls from people all over the district expressing their concerns about the recent announcement to delay in-person schooling until September 28th. After weeks of planning and preparation for welcoming students back into the classroom next month, there seems to have been a sudden and dramatic shift from in-person learning with hybrid options to all virtual learning in FWISD.
Like many of you, I was confused about how we got to where we are today. I have spent the past several days researching and reaching out to different local authorities to get the full story, and I wanted to take time to share the information with you today.
Last week, the Texas Education Agency (TEA), in working with the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House and the Chairmen of both the House and Senate Public Education Committees, issued guidance on safely reopening schools across the State of Texas, which they are constitutionally required to do. With over 5 million school-aged children, over 1,000 ISDs, and over 350,000 school teachers employed in the state of Texas, it is impossible to implement a one-size-fits-all solution that adheres to the specific circumstances of a respective district while simultaneously best meeting the needs of the teachers and children. The TEA admitted that it is their duty to ensure the health and safety of students, teachers, staff, and families and so whatever was needed for the ISDs from the state, it would provide, including the pledge of tens of millions of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) if needed.
To offer the best possible solution, TEA committed to working closely with local authorities to ensure they had the assistance and resources needed from the state to safely re-open our schools in a manner that best reflected the individual needs and circumstances of the district. This individualized approach also offered parents the flexibility to educate their children virtually at home, with no loss of state dollars to the school district.
In accordance with suggested guidelines and in working closely with the TEA, Fort Worth ISD had been planning for students to safely return to schools. Understandably, some parents have been registering their children to return to classrooms while others have elected to enroll in the virtual program. On Monday of this week, the Local Health Authorities from Tarrant County issued an order that halted all in-person classroom opportunities until September 28th.
So, just who is the Local Health Authority and where did they get the authority to make a decision that impacts the FWISD without input or approval from the FWISD School Board or many of its citizens? There are three members of the Tarrant County Local Health Authority: Dr. Catherine Colquitt for Tarrant County Public Health, Dr. Cynthia Simmons for the City of Arlington, and Dr. Steve Martin for the City of Burleson. Heard of them? Neither have I.
The Local Health Authority is employed by Tarrant County and reports to the County Judge and Commissioners Court. Chapter 81 of the Texas Health and Safety Code grants the Local Health Authority the authority to make such a decision they did on Monday. Based on my research, it is unprecedented that any Health Authority in the State of Texas has ever proactively made such a decision. Our County local school boards did not and were not allowed to have a vote on this decision. It would seem this unprecedented decision was made without regard to the needs of students (who may not have access to internet for remote learning or may rely on meals from the school) or parents (who need their children in school so they may continue to work). Was any consideration made for special needs children who need that specialized education? We will never know because there was no input from the community or parents of the schoolchildren on this decision from being made.
You have my word; I will work tirelessly in the next legislative session to ensure these local health authorities are stripped of this type of far-reaching decision-making authority; and I will subsequently work to restore this authority to our ELECTED ISD School Board representatives, where it rightly belongs.
This change will enable our elected local leaders to receive input and counsel from fellow citizens in the community to best make decisions for our children, their education, and ultimately their futures.
If you would like to discuss this or anything else with me at anytime I am always available via email craig@craiggoldman.org or you can call me or text me on my personal cell phone (I'm not posting this, even though it's in the letter.)
This infuriates me so much...
