Frisco ISD superintendent: 'We feel good about the health and safety protocols we have in place'

Frisco Independent School District Superintendent Mike Waldrip said there’s one major reason he is pleased his district resumed in-person education this fall.

“We believe that the best place for children to learn is in our classrooms,” Waldrip told Collin Times.

This fall students are back in classrooms in the Frisco district, which is nearly 30 miles north of Dallas.

Frisco Superintendent Mike Waldrip. | Frisco ISD

“The Texas Education Agency has required school districts to provide on-campus instruction. Frisco ISD is giving families the additional option to attend classes virtually,” Waldrip said. “We believe it is important for the district to honor families’ choices and provide students with a rich and robust educational experience regardless of learning environment. We know our families are eager to get back to normal as soon as possible and we are appreciative of their willingness to work with Frisco ISD to provide a safe learning environment for all students and staff.”

The district started the 2020-21 school year Aug. 13, as planned. But due to a “rapidly changing situation with COVID-19,” it opened with online instruction. Students returned to campuses Sept. 3.

“For the first nine weeks of school, 45% of our students are attending classes face-to-face on campus,” Waldrip said. “The percentage will increase to 52% based on the most recent changes submitted by families for the second nine weeks, which begins Oct. 19.”

Students in Texas are allowed to change how they are attending school after each grading period.

Waldrip said there is no indication that concerns about coronavirus caused a reduction in staff.

“Preliminary data does not appear to reflect a higher than typical number of retirements and resignations overall relative to previous school years,” he said. “Teachers work from campus, regardless of whether they are teaching in-person or virtually.”

Waldrip said the huge district, which had more than 63,000 students in 72 educational facilities at the start of 2020 – 42 elementary schools, 17 middle schools, 10 high schools and three special program centers – has taken precautions to reduce health and safety risks, including screening students and staff daily, the frequent use of hand sanitizers and hand-washing, mask use based on infection rates, and regular cleaning and disinfecting.

“We feel good about the health and safety protocols we have in place, as well as the process for close contact reviews and required quarantine when positive cases do occur,” he said. “We are also constantly looking at our data and talking to health experts to ensure our protocols reflect their latest recommendations and any new information about COVID-19 and how it spreads.”

Waldrip is aware there is no way to completely eliminate the chance of infection. The only option is to do to all they can, adjust as needed and learn, which is the basic mission of a school.

“As a school district, we know it is not possible to entirely remove the risks associated with COVID-19 while conducting in-person learning,” he said. “However, we can take proactive steps to reduce the likelihood of the virus spreading. That is why Frisco ISD implemented protocols to provide for physical distancing and enhanced our daily cleaning and disinfection procedures.

“Face coverings are required in accordance with Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order, and our youngest students are also wearing them during transition times such as arrival, dismissal and while in the hallways. I am proud of everything our staff and students have done to make our schools as safe as possible.”

After nearly four decades in schools, Waldrip can call upon many years' experience in such an unprecedented time.

Waldrip has been an educator since 1982, starting out as a teacher and coach for 16 years. He then took a position as assistant high school principal in Seminole before coming to the Frisco ISD in 2002 as principal of Clark Middle School before being named the first director of secondary instruction.

He continued his career climb by serving as the first principal for Liberty High School when it opened in 2006. In 2010 Waldrip moved up to serve as an assistant and deputy superintendent. 

He held his first job as a superintendent of schools in the nearby Coppell ISD before returning to Frisco ISD in July 2017.