Ysleta Independent School District officials said Tuesday that more than 2,500 of its 6,000 employees will have received a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of this week – and officials hope to vaccinate all employees who are willing to receive it by the end of this month.
“Safety is at the forefront of everything we do every day as educators,” said Ysleta ISD Superintendent of School Dr. Xavier De La Torre. “We stand ready not only to support our own employees who seek COVID-19 vaccines, but also our fellow educators at smaller El Paso-area school districts.
As an approved vaccine administrator, YISD officials say the district is in line to receive an allocation of vaccines when they become available.
Once those vaccines come in, they would be provided to Ysleta ISD employees, as well as those employed with the nearby Anthony, Canutillo, Clint, Fabens, San Elizario, and Tornillo school districts.
“We were fortunate to be able to partner in October with Clint ISD to provide rapid- results testing for its student athletes, and we are pleased once again to offer a helping hand to districts that may have fewer resources – but similar urgency – in helping prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Dr. De La Torre added.
District officials pointed to the support of various local agencies and hospitals, as the main factors in achieving those goals.
To date, Ysleta ISD has been able to offer thousands of COVID-19 vaccines to employees who qualified under priority groups based on age or underlying medical conditions with the support of the City of El Paso, UTEP, Hospitals of Providence, El Paso Children’s Hospital, and Ysleta Del Sue Pueblo tribe.
While Ysleta ISD only recently launched in-person learning for students on February 1, roughly 30 percent of students are now attending classes on campus after their parents chose either a Hybrid Learning model (on-campus instruction Monday-Thursday and remote learning at home on Friday) or a 100% Face-to-Face Learning model (on-campus instruction Monday- Friday).
District officials add that parents may also opt for their children to continue participating in 100% Online Learning at home for the remainder of the school year, if they so desire.
However, those who would like to switch their child’s learning model for the grading period that begins Monday, March 22 (after Spring Break), should contact their child’s school no later than Friday, March 12.
For more information, parents are encouraged to submit questions through the “Ask The District” tab on the main webpage.
