DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF) – The Catholic Diocese of Dallas announced this week its plans to reopen school in person amid concerns surrounding the continued spread of COVID-19.
According to school superintendent, Dr. Matt Vereecke, the leaders of diocesan schools have been meeting regularly with the Diocese of Dallas administration and outside medical experts throughout Texas.
In making this week’s announcement, Dr. Vereecke pointed out that public schools face different issues than the 33 Catholic schools that operate in the 9 counties that make up the Diocese.
“Diocesan schools have smaller classes, different facilities and more flexibility to adapt to the current health concerns,” said Vereecke. “We have come to the conclusion that we can absolutely open our schools in person, and that we can keep our teachers, students and staff safe. Human life is sacred, and as
Catholics we have a responsibility to protect it from conception to natural death, and we firmly believe these protocols will do so.”
The Superintendent said that he is aware that the decision to open and the protocols will be viewed by some as an ideological or political statement.
“That is not the case,” he insisted. “Our decisions have been made with only three objectives in mind: the health, safety and faith of our students,
teachers and staff. “
Parents were notified of the new protocol this week in a letter. The following protocols are consistent across all diocesan schools:
• All diocesan elementary schools that are not in Dallas County can begin in-person instruction
as early as August 19th.
• All diocesan elementary schools in Dallas County can begin in-person instruction as early as
September 2nd.
• Regardless of start date, there will be a two-week phase in to fulltime instruction so that
students and parents can be trained on the school safety and health protocols.
• All individuals will be required to wear face coverings when inside school buildings. There can
be and will be no exceptions to this policy.
• There will be no fall sports for the grade schools.
• All individuals will submit to health screenings every day; mandatory sick leave will be enforced
and details will be shared by the school principal when and if someone tests positive.
• Parents may opt for remote learning if the protocols do not fit the needs of the student or
family.
“We will be constantly reviewing these procedures and monitoring our schools,” said Dr. Vereecke. “We are thankful for the partnership, trust and patience of parents, and look forward to seeing students in the fall.”
The decision to allow schools outside of Dallas County to begin in-person instruction sooner than Diocesan schools in the county stems from a Dallas County order that banned in-person learning before September 8. The State Attorney General advised religious private schools that the order does not legally apply to them. Dr. Vereecke said the Diocese honored the county’s order but chose to open ahead of Labor Day to avoid family trips occurring so close to the return to the classroom.
Listen to Clayton Neville’s story below:
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