The first day of school for the Wimberley Independent School District was August 17. The district updated the community on a number of topics as the school year began.
School Safety and Security WISD has been working through the summer on implementing safety and security measures as part of a continued effort to provide the safest possible environment for our students and staff. To help communicate all the work that has been taking place, WISD will release several videos highlighting different aspects of the safety and security plans and processes. Videos can be accessed on the school district’s YouTube page www.youtube.com/c/ WimberleyISD.
The most effective safety approach is multi-layered and is led by a shared responsibility among the staff, students, parents, and law enforcement/first-responder entities.
Bus Numbers and Routes Available Online Last spring the district’s transportation department officially launched the new SMART tag Parent Portal. The portal allows parents to receive emails or text messages when their child is approximately 10-15 minutes from their stop, view a map showing their child’s bus location, and update authorized guardians. Also, if a child is registered for Transportation during enrollment parents can already view the child’s bus number and route through the portal.
To begin the registration process visit parent. smart-tag.net online and enter in Wimberley ISD. Type in the child’s WISD student ID number, birthday, and campus name. Once registered, additional children can be added to the account. Temporary Suspension of Inter-Campus Bus Shuttle The district is experiencing bus driver staffing shortages currently that will require the district to temporarily suspend the inter-campus bus shuttle option until it is able to onboard additional bus drivers. In the past, students could ride between campuses to allow parents to pick up their children all at once at a single campus. Due to the shortage of drivers and the expectation of full buses, this option isn’t possible at this time. The district is actively seeking applicants for bus driver positions and appreciates the community’s help in encouraging others to join WISD staff as a bus driver.
The district anticipates this will create longer pick-up lines. It has the intention to bring back the shuttle route in the future when there are enough bus drivers to make it possible.
Child Nutrition Updates In the spring the district notified parents that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) was ending the free meal program after last school year. That means that for the 2022-23 school year, all meals will come at a cost. The full price meal costs are $2.60 at Blue Hole Primary, $2.85 at Jacob’s Well Elementary, $3.10 at Danforth Junior High and $3.75 at Wimberley High School. Student breakfast costs $2 at all campuses. Adult meal prices for staff and visitors are posted on the school’s website.
WISD families whose students qualify for free/ reduced price meals will be able to submit an application to receive lower- cost meals. Families can submit the application here through the Titan student meal account system. Submitting a family’s application to the National School Lunch Program can do more than just qualify a student to receive free and reduced-price meals, it can also reduce testing and college application fees, may qualify student’s households for discounted internet service, and provide other opportunities.
WISD Webstore Credit Card Fees Beginning in the 2022-23 school year, purchases made through WISD’s online webstore will be charged an additional 3.99% credit card processing fee. In the past, this processing fee was paid by WISD. A few items on the webstore will not have this fee attached to the base charge. These items are any Pre-K tuition or registration charges, any Kid Connection charges and any donations made to the district. Examples of lower-priced items that will have the required processing fee are athletic fees, technology fees, library dues, etc. Parents have the option to pay these fees via cash or check to completely avoid the credit card processing fee.
Athletic Passes Students in grades 7th-12th participating in athletics are required to pay an annual athletic fee. As an incentive students receive an all sports pass to gain entry into all regular season home games. Please claim passes before the first event planned to attend or by September 30. Digital tickets/passes are required for all events.
Digital Tickets to Athletics Events All tickets will continue to be sold online for every athletic event held at WISD. Please prepare for events ahead of time by downloading the Hometown Ticketing Fan App or buying online at wimberleyisd.net/ tickets. This will help keep check-in lines running smoothly. Questions about athletic passes or tickets can be directed to adelina. [email protected].
