Frisco ISD changes plans for coronavirus break, with online instruction to begin next week.

Frisco ISD has changed its plans for next week after deciding to extend spring break for students in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Instead, teachers will receive information through email about directing education through eLearning starting Tuesday, according to an email sent to parents.

Details about how students will complete classwork remotely will be shared soon, the email said, and families who need internet should contact the district.

Only administrators and designated central support staff are expected to report to work Monday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon, according to an email Frisco ISD’s communications office sent Sunday afternoon detailing onsite expectations and staff pay.

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Frisco ISD Superintendent Mike Waldrip had said in an email last week that all employees needed to work Monday so that teachers could learn how to deliver online instruction to students and, in turn, receive state money that pays for employee wages.

He said that the district would lose $25 million if it closed for two weeks and that the Texas Education Agency told Frisco ISD that it would have to provide some level of instruction to its students for the district to continue to receive funding during the closure.

The district designated FISD staff into one of three categories:

• Required to be onsite: administrators and designated central support staff;
• Required to work remotely: teachers, professional campus staff and designated central support staff;
• On call: all other staff.

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“Of note, despite the emergency closure, all Frisco ISD full and part-time staff will continue to receive full pay,” the communications office said. “More information regarding payroll, timekeeping, and absences will be forthcoming.”

All staff members who are not in the designated onsite category must request permission from their supervisors before entering the building. Anyone who is ill, on medical leave of absence or self-quarantined has been asked to not enter the building.

Frisco has had at least five presumptive positive cases of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.