Morton Parents, our earlier phone call regarding extending Spring Break for students that was sent out was confusing. Our apologies. To be specific, students will NOT have school next week, March 23-27, in order for school officials to assess our current health situation and make educational plans if we need an extended closure due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. A letter will be mailed to all parents with details later this week.
March 18, 2020
Given the rapidly evolving situation with COVID-19, Morton ISD will suspend normal district operations for students through Friday, March 27th, 2020 in an effort support our nation’s need to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. Our health officials report that cases are continuing to spread in the state, and an increase in confirmed cases in Lubbock and Hockley County seems likely. Suspending operations for this length of time will allow us to assess the growing situation to determine, in coordination with local health officials, whether the virus is continuing to have community spread or whether it has been contained. Additionally, all extracurricular activities, practices and athletic events are suspended while we are closed.
We do not make this decision lightly. We fully realize it presents significant difficulties to working parents. However, we are hopeful that these measures will better ensure the long-term health and safety of children, staff, and the larger community.
Morton ISD teachers and staff will be finalizing logistics on at-home learning options and the distribution of food to address children’s nutritional needs while school is out. We will be mailing a letter to each parent or guardian requesting information about access to the internet at home and if parents will participate in the free meal program if school is closed for longer than one week. This letter will include a prepaid envelope to mail the questionnaire back and all parents/guardians are urged to do so. More information and guidance will be made available on our website by Wednesday, March 25, 2020. We will also take this week to further clean schools and buses and restock custodial and nursing supplies.
Additionally, we ask the broader community to take the following reasonable precautions to prevent the spread of the illness:
• Don’t shake hands
• Wash your hands regularly
• Limit movement within the community, especially avoiding crowded placed and maintaining 3 to 6 ft of distance between people (at least an arm’s length)
• If you are moving around in the community, don’t congregate in large groups
• For those who have traveled to areas with known COVID-19 cases – both inside and outside of the country – we ask that you self-quarantine and monitor for symptoms. Students who have traveled should plan to stay home for two weeks after arriving home. Please contact your campus to let them know, and this will be considered an excused absence.
• If you suspect you have symptoms of COVID-19, call your health care provider for medical advice .
• Keep your child at home if he/she feels ill, even if you think it is just a cold.
• Do not leave the house if you are ill, except to access medical care
This is a quickly changing situation, and we will continue to monitor information, will assess conditions throughout the week, and will provide the next update by March 27th, 2020 via our website and email.
Thank you for your support and cooperation as we ensure that all members of the community in Morton stay safe and healthy.
Superintendent Karen Saunders
Good afternoon Morton parents, students, and community members,
There are many questions about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it may impact our schools. We are vigilant and have been proactive. On Saturday, we had Germblast, a professional disinfecting company who use a high-level disinfection process, treat all areas at all campuses. We have been following the recommendations of the CDC and are focused on prevention. We will continue to disinfect the school areas and buses and keep sanitizer and Kleenex available, and soap dispensers filled. We are in collaboration with Cochran Memorial Hospital and are keeping up with the latest on the COVID -19 virus.
As of today, the district plans to resume classes on Monday, March 23rd. We will closely monitor the situation, and should it become necessary to cancel school in the future, we will notify families via text, the Morton app, email, website, local media stations, and social media accounts.
If you feel you or your family may have been exposed while traveling during Spring Break, please contact your doctor or the Cochran Memorial Hospital by telephone. Cochran Memorial Hospital staff will determinealocationtoconductascreeningoutsidethehospital. PleaseseetheirFacebookpagefor detailed information on screenings.
Families should follow standard procedures for illness upon returning from spring break (and any time your child has been sick).
•Fever: Students must be free of fever for 24 hours without Tylenol or Advil.
•Vomiting or Diarrhea: If your child is vomiting or had diarrhea, they should not return to school until those issues have been resolved for 24 hours.
•Students on Antibiotics: Students who receive antibiotics for an illness should wait 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotics and after the last instance of vomiting or diarrhea before returning to school.
For more information on the COVID-19 virus, please visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Karen Saunders, M.Ed. Superintendent Morton ISD
The UIL has cancelled all competitions through March 29th.
Please click on the link to read an important letter from our Superintendent https://5il.co/dpx0
Keep your kids engaged in literacy over the break as actors read their favorite books for FREE! https://www.storylineonline.net/
You will be receiving letters in the mail this week from the US Census Bureau. Please make sure to fill those out accurately as it affects school funding for head start, school lunches, & classroom technology. For more information go to https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/s
Next year's JH cheerleaders will be Sariah Maldonado, Hope Zapata, Faith Zapata, Dariana Molinar, Natalie Ramirez, Frances Alvarado, Malorie Villarreal, Aubrey Ramon, and mascot Aubrey Ramon. Congratulations, ladies!
Congratulations to our 2020-21 high school cheer squad. New members are Mia Soliz, Meghan Lopez, Kami Rodriguez, Karina Lujan, Erika Roberts, Elena Alvarado, Nissa Navarrette, and Lali Navarrette. Next year's mascot will be Mia Zapata.
Good Morning! Spring Break starts today for our kids. Enjoy yourselves and be safe! See you on the 23rd!
Thank you US Army, Morton American Legion and Morton Lion's Club for the Flag Raising Ceremony. Thank you to the community members who joined us!
Morton community members came to speak to our students. Lion's Club member David Greener, Vicky "Betsy Ross" Rice, American Legion President Jorge Trejo, Marilyn Neal, Sherriff Jorge De La Cruz, Deputy Mike Armstrong and U.S. Army representative Staff Sergeant Nathaniel De Jesus.
Don't forget your caps and your donations tomorrow!
At 8 am March 12, the US Army will be performing a flag raising ceremony at Morton High school and then will proceed to the other campuses to do the same. Come join us for this patriotic event.
Morton Elementary kids fostering a culture of kindness. #nobullyingallowed
Lots of great stuff at tonight's Open House at Morton Elementary!
All Star cast and crew. Haili and Nissa- honorable mention, Danyka - sound, and Mikayla and Xander - all star cast.
Congratulations to our One Act Play car and crew! They are advancing to Bi- District round on March 28 in Post.
Lots of great stuff at tonight's Open House at Morton Elementary!
