On Tuesday, May 18, 2021, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an update stating that starting June 5, schools and other public governmental entities would no longer be allowed to require the use of masks.
Under Gov. Abbott’s directive, governmental entities cannot require the use of masks, however, at this time, DeSoto ISD strongly encourages the continued use of masks while on district property to aid in the protection of students and staff.
In DeSoto ISD, we understand the concerns this announcement may elicit among our school community which was significantly impacted by the onset of the coronavirus global health pandemic. As updates have continued to unfold related to best practices in limiting community spread of coronavirus, my team has been diligent in their efforts to keep our school community safe.
Our response to the coronavirus included the following actions:
- Implementation of district COVID-19 task force which regularly reviewed and assessed information, updates, research and best practices addressing concerns of community spread and infection
- Designed and implemented COVID-19 safety guidelines and procedures as schools reopened and scaffolded students’ return to campus-supervised learning to assess and respond to areas of safety related to COVID-19
- Designed a reporting structure to track, monitor and respond to suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19
- Collaborated with Methodist Charlton Hospital, our local medical partner, to host a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for parents, staff, community and age-eligible students to receive the vaccine at no cost
- Adjusted district facility cleaning and disinfection practices
- Updated district facilities’ ventilation systems to clean and cycle fresh air every ten minutes throughout the day
In DeSoto ISD, we are proud of the efforts we’ve put forth to keep our school community safe. As we continue to navigate the realities of COVID-19, we will remain vigilant in our efforts to maintain a level of safety for students, staff and district families.
Recently, local and national health officials approved the administration of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 12 and older. Currently, DeSoto ISD has more than 4,000 students, who, based on their age, are eligible to receive the vaccine.
As a school district, it is our goal to support the health and wellness of our school community. That is why we are working to coordinate a vaccination clinic for those who are interested in having their child vaccinated at no cost to the family. We look forward to sharing more information as we work out the details.
As we continue to organize efforts for a student-focused vaccination drive, please assist our planning efforts by completing this brief survey.
Children’s Health COVID-19 Vaccine Administration
On Saturday, May 22, Children’s Health℠ is excited to offer students 12 years or older in your district the opportunity to receive the Pfizer vaccine at Children’s Health Specialty Center DeSoto. Appointments are now available from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Click here to schedule an appointment.
Children 17 years or younger must have a parent or guardian present during vaccine administration to verify the child’s age. We cannot administer the COVID‑19 vaccine to individuals with a known history of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any component of the COVID‑19 vaccine. For details regarding ingredients, risks and side effects please review the Pfizer Fact Sheet.
This vaccine requires two doses: day 1 and again between days 21 and 42. The second dose appointment will be scheduled when the person receives their first dose. If you have any questions on whether you or your child should receive the vaccine, please consult with your primary care providers.
For information on the COVID‑19 vaccine, we encourage you to read this article with information from Jeffrey Kahn, M.D., Director of Infectious Disease at Children’s Health and Professor at UT Southwestern, and review these frequently asked questions.
We recognize there will be many avenues for students to receive this vaccine, and we wanted you to be aware that Children’s Health is offering this service to our community. Thank you for allowing Children's Health the opportunity to serve you, your family and your community.