MANSFIELD, Texas — Mansfield ISD is closing all buildings from Friday, Jan. 14 through Tuesday, Jan. 18 due to the high numbers of student and staff testing positive for COVID-19.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 12, 750 students and 195 staff in MISD had reported active cases of coronavirus. In addition to those testing positive, others are also absent from school due to other illnesses or pending COVID tests.

In a letter to the school district, MISD Superintendent Dr. Kimberley Cantu said the shortage of staff and substitute teachers has made it impossible for the schools to carry out their day-to-day operations, thus shutting the campuses down until next week.

Dr. Cantu said this five-day break may allow students and staff to recover at home and minimize the possibility of spreading the virus throughout the community. During this break, students are not required to log on to virtual learning. There will be additional instructional days added on to the school calendar, but students are also not required to make up these missed days of instruction. But, if the school shuts down in the future again, making up missed school days may be necessary.

The MISD Student Nutrition Department will still be handing out meals, with curbside pickup available on Tuesday, Jan. 18 from 11 a.m. to noon at Mary Jo Sheppard Elementary School, Della Icenhower Intermediate School and Danny Jones Middle School. Students are not required to be present to pick up the meal but a Mansfield ID or student information will need to be shown.

Anyone in the school district who tests positive is asked to contact their schools, supervisors and the health department.​