For the first time in more than five months, the Nest will have students back on campus starting Thursday, three weeks after the 2020-2021 school began virtually. Frisco ISD schools take extra precautions in cleaning and social distancing to ensure the safety of staff and students. 

“Each classroom and restroom will be disinfected daily,” FISD said in the High School Fall 2020 School Year Guidance. “All high touch areas will be disinfected daily. Cleaning cloths will be changed for each classroom and common area to maximize room to room cleanliness. Custodians will wear masks and gloves during work hours. The cafeteria will be disinfected between lunch periods.”

In addition to daily sanitation throughout the school, social distancing measures will be implemented as recommended by the Center for Disease Control.

“To assist in implementing social distancing policies we are taking several steps,” principal Ashley Rainwater said. “By moving students to virtual sections we have worked to reduce class sizes to allow students to be able to maintain a distance between them and their peers. During in-service week, our teachers have been learning ways to utilize technology into their classrooms to ensure that our students can work collaboratively, but still follow social distancing protocols.”

Technology will also be used to monitor crowds and limit sharing supplies.

“This year students will utilize an electronic hall pass system,” Rainwater said. “This will not only remove the need for students and staff to trade off paper passes, but will allow the campus to control the number of passes given at any time. By controlling the passes, we can make sure that we do not have too many students in the hallways, bathroom or other campus sites at one time.” 

With all these procedures in place,  AP Literature teacher Katherine Allen appreciates the effort FISD has put into keeping everyone safe. 

“I think that FISD is doing the best that they can to ensure that their students, staff and teachers are safe as they possibly can be,” Allen said. “They have provided us with cleaning materials to clean before and after each class, but I plan to be even more precautious in my own class.  As far as social distancing is concerned, most classrooms do not have the square footage that would allow for as much social distancing as we would like, but each teacher is going to do the best they can to set up their classroom to adhere to the guidelines as best as possible. I know I will!”

Social distancing will go beyond classes, as time periods between classes will also be altered. 

“Changes are being made to our before school, after school, and transition periods protocols,” Rainwater said. “This includes staggered passing periods and dismissal times to reduce the number of students in the hallways at one time.”

While this semester may look different from previous ones, the staff is working diligently to ensure the safety of all.