South DFW News

Ellis County Judge Todd Little has requested personal protective equipment (PPE), state testing and prevention planning information from the Office of Emergency Management to help administrators reopen schools, according to media reports.

“Each and every one of us want to see our students return to school,” Little told the Waxahatchie Daily. “As county judge I believe our school districts, school boards, administrative leaders, teachers, and parents understand their unique community needs. Together their partnership will steward the safe reopening of our schools.”

Little, who doubles as the emergency management director for Ellis County, added that the Office of Emergency Management is collaborating with schools to maintain “a safe environment for our students, teachers, and staff will always remain our primary mission.”

As of Sept. 1, there have been 3,746 reported positive COVID-19 cases in Ellis County, including 122 confirmed active cases, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services Dashboard (DSHS). That’s compared to 617,333 coronavirus cases statewide and 12,681 fatalities.

But according to Chapter 81.084 of the Health and Safety Code, before Dr. Leigh Nordstrom, the local Ellis County health authority, can take action, there must be a "reasonable belief" that infection exists before quarantining or imposing control measures on a property, including a school.

For Ellis County a 10% absentee rate due to COVID-19 or flu-related illnesses is required in order to initiate a communicable disease prevention plan depending on the school campus,  according to Little.

“When this threshold is met, the local health authority will work with local school administrators to determine the closure of school campuses,” Little told the newspaper. 

Chapter 81.084 of the Health and Safety Code states, in part that the department or health authority can tag an object for identification with a notice of possible infection or contamination.

“The department or health authority shall send notice of its action by registered or certified mail or by personal delivery to the person who owns or controls the property.  If the property is land or a structure or an animal or other property on the land, the department or health authority shall also post the notice on the land and at a place convenient to the public in the county courthouse.  If the property is infected or contaminated as a result of a public health disaster, the department or health authority is not required to provide notice under this subsection.

“The department or health authority shall remove the quarantine and return control of the property to the person who owns or controls it if the property is found not to be infected or contaminated.  The department or health authority by written order may require the person who owns or controls the property to impose control measures that are technically feasible to disinfect or decontaminate the property if the property is found to be infected or contaminated.”