SAISD on track to open classrooms Sept. 8

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) – Some students in the San Antonio School District could be going back to the classrooms in a couple of weeks.

SAISD Superintendent Pedro Martinez told parents at a town hall Monday night that the situation depends on the COVID-19 numbers, which continue to improve.

“If the metrics stay where they’re at right now or continue to get better, we’ll be able  to begin in-person instruction on September 8, the day after Labor Day,” said Martinez.

In-person instruction would be phased in.

“What we’re asking  schools to do is allow up to 10 percent of our children to come in for the first phase,” said Martinez.

He say the first phase would include pre-k through second grade and special needs children.   Martinez added that parents who are not comfortable sending their children to school will be able to keep their youngsters at home and under the distance learning program.

Metro Health officials report a total of 45-thousand-364 COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began. Nearly 41-thousand patients have recovered.

The positivity rate, which is the percentage of positive cases compared to the total number of people tested, has fallen below 10 percent, and the number of hospital cases continues to drop.  As of Monday, there were 473 COVID-19 patients in local hospitals.

Four new deaths were reported Monday, bringing the county’s death toll to 725.