TEXAS, USA — UPDATE (2:20 p.m. Jan. 18): Christoval ISD Superintendent Dr. David Walker said the district is extending its closure through Wednesday, Jan. 19.
Walker said the district will reassess the situation Wednesday on the status of its personnel.
UPDATE (6:45 p.m. Jan. 13): Abilene ISD is canceling classes Friday - Tuesday, with plans to resume on Wednesday, Jan. 19.
UPDATE (4 p.m. Jan. 13): Christoval ISD is canceling classes Friday - Tuesday, with plans to resume on Wednesday, Jan. 19.
UPDATE (Jan. 13): Because of increasing COVID-19 cases, Hermleigh and Lohn ISDs closed schools Thursday and Friday. Classes will resume Monday, Jan. 17.
UPDATE (4:55 p.m. Jan. 12): Snyder ISD is canceling classes Thursday and Friday. Monday is a scheduled holiday for the district. Classes resume Tuesday, Jan. 18.
UPDATE (4:30 p.m. Jan. 12): Brady Independent School District is closing classrooms Thursday, Jan. 13-Friday, Jan. 14. Monday, Jan. 17 is a school holiday, so classes will resume Tuesday.
UPDATE (4 p.m. Jan. 12): Because of "abnormally high numbers of positive COVID cases and other illnesses among students and staff", Clyde Consolidated Independent School District said Wednesday it will close school Thursday, Jan. 13 and Friday, Jan. 14. The district already has a holiday scheduled for Monday, Jan. 17. School will resume Tuesday, Jan. 18.
UPDATE (12:25 p.m. Jan. 12): Texas Leadership Public Schools (TLCA) announced Wednesday it will have early release Thursday, Jan. 13 and no school Friday, Jan. 14.
The district said in a letter to parents, staff and students the current spike in COVID cases is "causing major problems for our staff and students, as well as our families and is limiting our ability to have school at a functional and successful level."
Monday is a scheduled holiday. Classes will resume Tuesday, Jan. 18.
UPDATE (9:45 a.m. Jan. 12): The Crockett County Consolidated Common School District announced Wednesday morning it will release students at noon Wednesday because of a staffing shortage.
Classes will resume Monday, Jan. 17.
UPDATE (5:14 p.m. Jan. 11): Schleicher County ISD campuses will be closed Wednesday-Friday, resuming Monday.
The district said the closures are caused by the rising increase of COVID-19 cases.
UPDATE (5 p.m. Jan. 11): Reagan County ISD, citing a rise in COVID cases, said it will close its campuses for the remainder of this week.
Classes for the RISD will resume Monday.
UPDATE (4:30 p.m. Jan. 11): Ranger Independent School District is canceling classes Jan. 12-14. Classes will resume Jan. 17.
The district said in a release that more than 90 students were sick and absent from school Tuesday. The closure will allow for a deep cleaning of the school and allow staff and students who are quarantined time to recover.
UPDATE (3:15 p.m. Jan. 11): Merkel Independent School District will close its schools from Friday, Jan. 14-Monday, Jan. 17. Monday is a student holiday, Martin Luther King Day.
In a release, MISD said more than 200 students and 30 staff members were absent Tuesday. The district said it will do its best to provide a safe environment for students until Thursday's closure.
Students can return to campus Tuesday, Jan. 18.
ORIGINAL STORY: With COVID-19 cases including the omicron variant, flu and other illnesses causing student absences and staff shortages, some West Texas schools have decided to close campuses for a day or more.
Water Valley Independent School District said Tuesday its schools will be closed Friday because of an expected shortage of staff. No after-school events or games will be affected by the closure, a social media post from the district said.
Cisco ISD said there were more than 130 student absences Tuesday, with 41 of those students testing positive for COVID-19. Other students reportedly have flu-like symptoms. Cisco campuses will be closed Wednesday, Jan. 12-Monday, Jan. 17. Classes will resume Tuesday, Jan. 18.
The district said maintenance staff will thoroughly clean all facilities during the closure.
Santa Anna ISD said a high number of staff are out sick with COVID-19, the flu or other illnesses. Tuesday, all staff was being utilized to fill in for the teachers who were out sick. The district said it has reached its limit of staff absences and one more employee absence will mean a class being without adult supervision.
Because of this, the district will be closed Wednesday, Jan. 12-Monday, Jan. 17. This time off will allow staff to recover during their quarantine period or from other illnesses.
Basketballs games will not be canceled in Santa Anna Tuesday, but Friday's game will be postponed and practices Wednesday-Friday are canceled. The district said students scheduled to participate in Coleman's stock show may still participate.
More than 900 COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Tom Green County alone Tuesday with hospitalizations higher than the previous few days. In Eastland County, 83 cases were confirmed Tuesday. Thirty cases were confirmed Tuesday in Coleman County.
Districts across the state and the nation are continuing to close for staff and student illnesses, as well as to clean facilities.
This is a developing story. More information regarding possible closures will be posted as it becomes available.
