Plano ISD is extending spring break through March 20 as the district looks to slow the potential spread of the coronavirus.

District offices will be closed during this time, and any district events and competitions that were scheduled will be canceled, according to a March 12 letter to the Plano ISD community from Superintendent Sara Bonser.

District travel for competitions and events outside of Plano will be determined on a case-by-case basis, she said.

“We are taking these steps out of an abundance of caution,” Bonser said in the statement. “Public health officials have not yet made this a requirement for public institutions. Nevertheless, given all that we know, and what we can anticipate based on information from local, state and national agencies, ... we believe this is the most prudent course of action at this time.”

The extension will be used to assess community situations after travelers return from spring break, Bonser said in the statement.


The statement, which encouraged parents and students to adhere to CDC recommendations to limit social interactions, cites the March 11 declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization as a reason for the extension.

Classes are currently set to resume March 23. Before then, the district will evaluate the situation and will share any updates on its newly dedicated health page and other channels, the statement said.

Digital tools, including the PISD Webdesk and student digital backpack, were listed as possible resources should the school decide to extend the closure further, Bonser said.

The announcement came within an hour of Frisco ISD and McKinney ISD deciding to extend spring break by a week as well.


Collin County Health Officials reported three confirmed cases of coronavirus on March 10. All three cases were found in Frisco.