Note: The video above is an update on COVID-19 in North Texas. Article Updated at 6:45 p.m. to include information from Tarrant County's health order.
A school at Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, two schools at Coppell ISD and a school at Cedar Hill ISD are moving to all students to virtual learning due to the high number of COVID-19 cases at the schools.
All three districts have been in contact with the health departments in Dallas and Tarrant counties to make the decision. The Tarrant County health department issued an order of control due to high cases at Harwood Junior High at HEB ISD.
These mark the fourth and fifth districts this week in North Texas to switch to all online learning due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Coppell ISD will move students at Coppell High School and Coppell Ninth Grade online from Nov. 12–18. The district also said there was a limited number of substitutes.
The district said both schools are "experiencing our highest numbers" of positive COVID-19 cases and quarantined students and staff.
The Texas Education Agency has given school districts the option to move to all remote learning for five days without any impact on funding.
In July, Gov. Greg Abbott said local health authorities can make a closure if it has been determined that the closure is necessary, according to the Texas Tribune.
Cedar Hill ISD
An elementary school at Cedar Hill ISD will be learning online-only for a week due to the spread of COVID-19.
The district says Plummer Elementary will not offer in-person learning Nov.16 - Nov. 20 after taking guidance from the Dallas County Health and Human Services Department.
The district said Plummer’s “Grab and Go” meals schedule will also change next week. Families can stop by the campus Monday between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. and on Wednesday between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. to pick up meals.
HEB ISD
A junior high at Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD will be learning online-only for two weeks due to an order from the Tarrant County health department.
In a letter to parents, the district said that the Harwood Junior High "is experiencing a higher than usual" number of positive test results for COVID-19 and 40% of students are considered close contacts and must quarantine.
The order of control was issued from the Tarrant County Public Health due to a "reasonable cause to believe the property is or may be infected or contaminated" by COVID-19, the order said. With the order, the health department will conduct an investigation.
Harwood Junior High students switched online from Nov. 6–20, district officials said in an email Wednesday. Essential staff members will be allowed to return to campus. The school will be disinfected and decontaminated, the order said.
The district's COVID-19 dashboard shows that during the week from Nov. 2–8, there were eight positive cases at Harwood.
Students have a Thanksgiving holiday from Nov. 23–27. Students return to their choice of learning on Monday, Nov. 30.
The school canceled two basketball games and a football game that were scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
The school is located in north Bedford and has just under 1,000 students enrolled for seventh, eighth and ninth grade, according to the school's website.
Other schools in North Texas have also moved online due to COVID-19 cases this week.
Three campuses at Krum ISD are now learning completely online.
Sanger ISD closed Sanger High School on Thursday and Friday due to a spike in COVID-19 cases at the campus. Students will be learning online.
Keller ISD said Tuesday that Timber Creek High School will be closed for five days and all learning will be online-only, starting Wednesday.
And Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD is moving all students and staff at Chisholm Trail High School to fully online starting Tuesday. There were 450 people who needed to quarantine due to 26 active positive cases.