Updates to the LEADS guidelines for teachers, now available here.
Coronavirus Information
Leander ISD follows the guidance and expertise of national and local health officials to help protect our students and staff from all communicable diseases. The district is aware that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness (COVID-19) caused by a novel (new) coronavirus. Families are encouraged to visit the CDC website for more information and travel guidance regarding the Coronavirus.
External Resources
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Summary
- CDC Considerations for School Closures
- Facts about COVID-19
Local Public Health
- Austin Public Health
- Williamson County Health Department
- Texas Commission on Health and Human Services
Education Partners
As a reminder, the CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Updates
We are committed to providing regular updates regarding our response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic. Please find all of our updates on our news site.
- Leander ISD launched a survey for all families to select preferences for opening the 2020-21 school year. The survey, which is accessible via the email for Guardian #1 (identified by the family when registering their student), will be sent from research.programevaluation@leanderisd.org.
- Trustees met for a Special Meeting to discuss equity and diversity action steps to address discrimination and racism; an update on plans for starting school in the 2020-21 school year; and the annual evaluation of Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D.
- With graduation dates coming soon, we would like to provide our graduates and families an update regarding our ceremonies. We wish we could be together, celebrating as normal as possible. Health and safety continue to be our top priorities. Due to the recent guidance by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, we will need to limit attendance […]
- Summertime is bringing more than just the sunshine. We have a couple more episodes of Let’s Learn with Bruce & Friends before we say curtains to our inaugural season! At the start of the show, Superintendent Bruce Gearing Ed.D. boldly made a statement against racism in light of the murders of George Floyd and others […]
- Message from Superintendent Bruce Gearing This year has brought heroism and resilience from our students, teachers, staff, and families. Our educators supported students while managing households, teaching their own children, and facing the daily challenges of isolation, quarantine, and social distancing. Our families managed remote learning from the front lines while working in crowded households, […]
- It might be the last week of school, but there was still plenty to learn during Let’s Learn with Bruce & Friends! Hot off the press, our hot topics warmed us up when Athletics Director Jody Hormann revealed plans for strength and conditioning summer camps starting June 8. Director of Research Sarah Martinez shared feedback […]
- This is an ongoing issue and response by Leander ISD. As we continue to get new information and make new decisions, the content of this article may be outdated. Please visit our COVID-19 webpage for the most up-to-date news and announcements. Trustees finalize compensation and benefits plan for 2020–21, adjust bell schedules Meeting remotely, the […]
- As we count down the days to the end of the school year, we have to admit this has been among the most challenging we've ever experienced. Through it all, we see our community's resilience and dedication to being well-informed. That's why we love sharing our show "Let's Learn with Bruce & Friends" with you. […]
- This is an ongoing issue and response by Leander ISD. As we continue to get new information and make new decisions, the content of this article may be outdated. Please visit our COVID-19 webpage for the most up-to-date news and announcements. 2020 Summer School will be virtual, other programs adjusted In light of ongoing concerns […]
Child Nutrition Services (Breakfast and Lunch)
Between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., we are providing all students breakfast and hot lunch service at four locations:
- Bagdad Elementary School,
- Reed Elementary School,
- River Place Elementary School, and
- Running Brush Middle School.
All students can receive food. We serve a hot lunch and breakfast for the following day during the one meal distribution time as a convenience for our students and families.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)– Child Nutrition Services
- Texas Mealfinder Website
- USDA Food and Nutritional Service Website
Week One Food Service
Meals Distributed
* On March 24 we served breakfast for March 24 and March 25. Source on Google Sheets.
Remote Learning
Teaching & Learning Parent Guide
Leander ISD remains committed to providing learning experiences that extend outside of our physical classrooms. We have access to platforms and technical infrastructure to deploy learning experiences in the case of a prolonged closure.
Phase 1 – Remote Learning Plan Before April 5
During the planned suspension of normal school operations through April 5, students will not submit assignments for graded work. We want students to take advantage of these learning opportunities so they are ready to learn new material and skills after the two-week period.
Our Special Programs team will be working with campuses to support the needs of all students.
Phase 2 – Remote Learning Plan After April 5
We are committed to keeping our school communities connected and thriving even as our school buildings remain closed. As we begin Phase 2 of the Leander ISD Remote Learning Plan, our goal is to provide on-going and purposeful student learning that strikes a balance between on-line and off-line learning activities. Teachers will begin to introduce new learning, incorporating projects, assignments, and activities. Learning experiences will be designed to be authentic and engaging, aligned to the TEKS and the LISD curriculum, emphasizing opportunities for interaction with teachers and fellow classmates.
Additional Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Testing and Grades
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Events and Academic Calendar
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Technology
- Phase 2 Parent Guide for Learning
- Teaching and Learning Parent Guide
- Video Meetings Guidance from Leander ISD
- Texas Education Agency
- College Board
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Austin Community College
- University of Texas
Teachers and Staff
Thanks to our Board of Trustees, we are proud to continue payroll for all full-and-part time employees while our buildings are closed. We are moving all operational functions to a remote capacity, with the exception of essential functions such as child nutrition services, custodial, and maintenance.
Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Teachers and Staff
- Employee Protocol-COVID 19 (English, Español)
- Remote Work Protocol (English, Español)
- Teacher Hub Website (internal website)
- Technology Help Desk, 512-570-0566
- Technology Let’s Talk
- Benefits Let’s Talk
- Payroll Let’s Talk
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act)
Campus & Department Administrators & Supervisors
- Supervisor Protocols and Mitigation Measures
- Employee Protocol-COVID 19 (English, Español)
- COVID-19 Supervisor Protocol Zoom Meeting
Health and Wellness
We know this is a stressful time for our community, especially our families and staff.
In coordination with our Counseling Services and Employee Benefits teams, we would like to share resources for mental health and wellness.
Health and Wellness Resources
- Student and Family Wellness
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Health
- Headspace – a free, online tool for meditation and mindfulness (For Staff, For Everyone)
- LISD Employees and dependents have access to remote counseling via our Employee Assistance Program (COVID-19 EAP Resources).
- Call 1-800-343-3822 to speak with an EAP Intake Counselor.
- Teen Line: 1-800-334-TEEN (8336).
- MDLive – Employees on our Leander ISD benefits plan have access to telemedicine for both physical and mental health support.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas COVID-19 Resources
Talking to Your Child About COVID-19
These links are useful tools to aid parents in explaining the pandemic while offering age-specific coping strategies:
- COVID-19 Guide for Parents & Caregivers: National Child Traumatic Stress Network Includes ways to help children cope by age group (English, Spanish)
- Talking to Children About COVID-19 (NASP) Links to multiple languages including Spanish, Chinese and Korean available.
- Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus (NPR)
- How to Homeschool During the Coronavirus (Today Show)
Technology
Elementary School Students
We will be distributing Chromebook Laptops from April 7 – April 9. We are asking for families in need of an extra device to please come to one of our distribution sites next week.
Middle and High School Students
We are continuing to support mLISD devices. Please contact our Technology Help Desk if you have an issue with your laptop.
Note: Leander ISD offers a one-to-one laptop program for all students grades 6-12.
Teachers and Staff
We are working through principals and supervisors to identify staff who need computers or iPads to work remotely. We are prioritizing students in our distribution of devices. Our Technology Help Desk is open for staff having issues with their devices.
Technology Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Technology
- mLISD Information – One-to-One Laptops for Grades 6-12
- Elementary School Student Chromebook Distribution
- Technology Help Desk, 512-570-0566
- Technology Let’s Talk
Chromebook Distribution Data
Facilities
All Leander ISD facilities are closed through May 4. We are restricting access to our buildings in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Custodial services continues to maintain our campuses after it has deep cleaned all buildings.
Facilities Facilities Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Facilities
Communications
We know open and regular communication is critical during our response to COVID-19. We have implemented several initiatives to support personal, dependable, and accurate communication that reaches as wide of an audience as possible, including:
- remote district call center (routing campus and district main phone lines into Let’s Talk);
- Remind premium access for all staff;
- regular updates (daily during Spring Break and Monday-Wednesday-Friday through April 3);
- Knowledge Base articles with information about our response, answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs);
- translated content on all district phone calls, text messages, and emails to Spanish;
- updated language tools on all websites for translations to 8+ languages; and
- live events on Facebook (shared on YouTube and through our podcast network).