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Bishop CISD delays start date, waiting on devices

Bishop ISD delays start date, waiting on devices
Posted at 8:25 PM, Aug 07, 2020
and last updated 2020-08-07 21:25:20-04

Bishop Consolidated Independent School District announced late Thursday night that it would be delaying its school year until Aug. 31.

While the delay is because of COVID-19, it's not in the way one might think.

The school district had ordered a large number of devices such as laptops, iPads and WiFi hot spots so its students could be ready for distance learning, but it isn't the only one.

Superintendent of Schools Christina Gutierrez said because companies currently are overwhelmed by an unexpected number of orders from Texas schools, its order is backlogged, which forced BCISD to push back the start of its school year.

Gutierrez said she hopes to have the equipment soon.

“They won’t come in 'til probably a little closer until the beginning of September," she said. "So we decided that we would actually delay school until August 31st, and have at least three weeks of troubleshooting on the district's part."

Gutierrez also said that this delay will give families a chance to make sure their devices are working properly if they decide to keep their children home for virtual classes.

“(We're) trying to dedicate one week, if not longer than one week, of troubleshooting with our families in reference to our learning-management system we’re gonna be using,” she said.

She also said if some of these devices don't arrive in time, the district already has started dismantling some of its computer labs -- which have laptops -- in order for students to use them.