The Connally Independent School District shut down the five schools under its jurisdiction in Central Texas outside Waco until after Labor Day after two teachers died of COVID-19 following the first 12 days of in-person classes, the Associated Press reports.
Connally Junior High sixth grade social studies teacher Natalia Chansler, 41, died Saturday, days after her CJH colleague David McCormick, a 59-year-old seventh grade social studies teacher passed away. Before Monday, CISD had 51 confirmed cases of coronavirus among students and staff; school officials say additional cases have been reported this week.
In a Monday email, Superintendent Wesley Holt said the hope “is that the closure and holiday break will provide those who are positive with the virus or exposed to others with the virus, the time to isolate and recover. This closure will also allow time for deep cleaning and sanitizing of all CISD facilities.”