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Edinburg CISD to start school year fully remote; board authorizes more devices amid supply shortfalls
Summary
Superintendent Garza presented a four-level reopening plan and said the district would begin the school year at "level 4" (remote-first). Trustees approved funding to buy more student devices and directed administration to prioritize families with greatest need while continuing outreach for internet access.
Edinburg CISD Superintendent Mr. Garza told trustees on Aug. 11 that the district will begin the 2020-21 school year at "level 4," a board-controlled, remote-first operating level that allows essential staff to work on campus while most instruction takes place online. "We are at level 4, which is a most strict learning environment before the governor can intervene," Garza said, framing the districts plan as one that prioritizes safety while preparing for phased returns.
The plan describes four district-controlled levels (1—4) plus a governor-directed level 5; the district will operate fully remote for an initial four-week waiver period beginning Aug. 31 and then return to the board for an extension or adjustment. Garza said principals determined which positions constitute "essential" or "skeleton" staff on each campus, and that staff who cannot safely report will be handled on a case-by-case basis by supervisors.
Dr. Moreno, who answered operational and budget questions during the meeting, told trustees the district has distributed roughly 12,000 devices to campuses and is working to make close to 20,000 devices available for student distribution. "We distributed approximately 12,000 devices to campuses," Moreno said, and added that administrators had leveraged prior board-authorized funds to buy additional inventory despite a national shortage of Chromebooks and other hardware.
Trustees pressed administration on equity: whether the district can guarantee one device per student or must assign on a per-household basis. Board members said multiple children in a household must not be disadvantaged; several trustees urged a firm plan to reach every child who needs a device. Moreno replied that the districts immediate goal was to provide at least one device per household and to run additional distribution rounds as more devices become available.
Trustees also discussed connectivity and outreach in rural pockets with limited provider service. Garza said district staff used buses and targeted visits to locate families without internet and deployed mobile Wi-Fi equipment where feasible. The district will run a set of short informational "vignettes" (videos) on its website and social channels in the weeks before school starts to explain schedules, grading, curbside meal programs and parent expectations.
The board approved a motion to allocate additional funds for device purchases and directed administration to report updated inventory and distribution plans at a follow-up workshop. Garza and Dr. Moreno said vendor shortages mean some orders may arrive after the Aug. 31 start date; they asked the board for flexibility to acquire devices as they become available.
