Gonzales ISD delays start of school year by a week, offers meal pickup

The start of the 2020 fall semester has been delayed to August 24 by Gonzales Independent School District.

According to a Facebook post from the district, this decision comes as both a consideration for student safety as well as a stopgap measure in solving the issue of delayed delivery of Chromebooks as part of the district’s One to One device program, in which every student above second grade will receive a Chromebook. As of the GISD Board of Trustees meeting held on Monday, August 10, the district had 71 Chromebooks in their possession and 2,200 on the way.

“The start date for school has been postponed,” the district wrote on its Facebook. “GISD will begin on Monday, August 24th! Due to not receiving the Chromebooks as promised as well as to ensure the safety of the staff and students are top priority, the start of school has been delayed by one week. Thank you for your patience during this time!”

The district will also be providing free curbside meal pickup to children 18 and below, due to the delay. Students will need to be accompanied by parents, or parents can bring a list of the students and schools they are picking up meals for. Meal pickup will be between 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Monday, Aug. 17 and Thursday, Aug. 20 at Gonzales Elementary. If parents pick up meals on both days, they will have a total of seven breakfasts and seven lunches for their students.