Beginning Monday, September 15, 2025 Big Sandy ISD will change the flow of traffic on Wildcat Drive for Pickup and Dropoff- Please read the updates on the new traffic patterns.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Earlier this morning, we released a statement regarding a delayed start to the school day due to an active manhunt in the area. Based on the information provided to us by both the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office and the Big Sandy Police Department, we made what we believed to be the safest and most responsible decision for our students and staff.
We are pleased to report that the suspect has since been apprehended in Smith County. However, once our transportation services and Child Nutrition Department are delayed—particularly in the morning hours—we are unable to restart those services in time to safely resume a normal schedule.
As a result, we will continue with the delayed start as previously communicated.
We sincerely thank you for your continued support and understanding. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and remain committed to keeping safety our top priority.
The Wildcat Way,
Rhonda D.Turner
Interim Superintendent
Earlier this morning, we released a statement regarding a delayed start to the school day due to an active manhunt in the area. Based on the information provided to us by both the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office and the Big Sandy Police Department, we made what we believed to be the safest and most responsible decision for our students and staff.
We are pleased to report that the suspect has since been apprehended in Smith County. However, once our transportation services and Child Nutrition Department are delayed—particularly in the morning hours—we are unable to restart those services in time to safely resume a normal schedule.
As a result, we will continue with the delayed start as previously communicated.
We sincerely thank you for your continued support and understanding. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and remain committed to keeping safety our top priority.
The Wildcat Way,
Rhonda D.Turner
Interim Superintendent
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We understand that the ongoing manhunt for an armed and dangerous suspect within the boundaries of our school district has created concern and uncertainty for many of our families. Your child’s safety remains our highest priority, and we are committed to keeping you informed as we receive updates from local authorities.
In consultation with the Big Sandy Police Department, we believe that a delayed start to the school day is the most prudent course of action given the current situation. This delay will allow our buses to operate after daylight, providing our drivers with better visibility as they navigate rural roads and ensuring that students are transported as safely as possible. We are confident that this is the best approach based on the information we have at this time.
Key Information:
ü All school buses will run on a two-hour delay.
ü School will begin two hours later than normal.
ü Parents are encouraged to walk with their children to the bus stop and remain with them until they are safely on the bus.
We appreciate your continued support and cooperation. By working together, we can ensure our students remain safe and feel secure on their way to school.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s campus principal.
Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe.
The Wildcat Way,
Rhonda D. Turner
Interim Superintendent
We understand that the ongoing manhunt for an armed and dangerous suspect within the boundaries of our school district has created concern and uncertainty for many of our families. Your child’s safety remains our highest priority, and we are committed to keeping you informed as we receive updates from local authorities.
In consultation with the Big Sandy Police Department, we believe that a delayed start to the school day is the most prudent course of action given the current situation. This delay will allow our buses to operate after daylight, providing our drivers with better visibility as they navigate rural roads and ensuring that students are transported as safely as possible. We are confident that this is the best approach based on the information we have at this time.
Key Information:
ü All school buses will run on a two-hour delay.
ü School will begin two hours later than normal.
ü Parents are encouraged to walk with their children to the bus stop and remain with them until they are safely on the bus.
We appreciate your continued support and cooperation. By working together, we can ensure our students remain safe and feel secure on their way to school.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s campus principal.
Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe.
The Wildcat Way,
Rhonda D. Turner
Interim Superintendent
Safety Update for Big Sandy ISD Families
Sometime around 3:10 p.m., the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office notified Big Sandy ISD of an active manhunt in the area of Weeping Willow Road and Scrub Pine Road.
For the safety of our students, the bus that normally runs this route will not be dropping off students today in the area of Weeping Willow and Scrub Pine Roads. Parents of these students have already been notified.
Out of an abundance of caution, our School Resource Officer will be following the bus route in that general direction.
The safety of our students is always our top priority.
Rhonda D. Turner, Interim Superintendent
Sometime around 3:10 p.m., the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office notified Big Sandy ISD of an active manhunt in the area of Weeping Willow Road and Scrub Pine Road.
For the safety of our students, the bus that normally runs this route will not be dropping off students today in the area of Weeping Willow and Scrub Pine Roads. Parents of these students have already been notified.
Out of an abundance of caution, our School Resource Officer will be following the bus route in that general direction.
The safety of our students is always our top priority.
Rhonda D. Turner, Interim Superintendent
Below you will find the new Cell Phone Policy Per House Bill 1481. Please read this carefully as it is now state law.
Online registration is opening Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Parents will need to come to the Elementary Office anytime from 9AM-7PM. New students must register in person- please see the list for items to bring with you. Returning students may register from home, or you may come in person if you would like additional help. Returning students will need to bring proof of residency on the schedule pickup day (date TBA). Returning students- parents can click the link to access the online registration portal Parent Portal.
SUMMER SCHOOL FEEDING HOURS STARTING June 2, 2025 thru June 19, 2025 Monday – Thursday Breakfast will be served from 7:30AM until 8:00AM and Lunch will be served from 11:30AM until 12:00PM (noon) for summer school attendees.
Community breakfast will be from 8:00am until 8:30AM Community lunch will be from 12:00PM until 12:30PM. enter thru the gated cafeteria door at the back of the school.
Anyone in the community, 18 or younger may come and eat breakfast and lunch.
The hold has been lifted at the school and the day is resuming as normal. Thank you for your patience.
We are having a medical emergency at Big Sandy ISD and an ambulance has been called. For privacy, all students are being held in place in their classroom. All students and staff are safe.
We have been monitoring the weather all day and out of an abundance of caution, Big Sandy ISD will be releasing students today at 2:30 PM. All buses will leaving the school at 2:30. Car riders can be picked up at anytime. Thank you for your patience.
Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday April 29th, the Pearl St. bus route driven by Coach Hutto will begin running in the opposite order on the PM routes. The AM route direction will not change, and the pickup times will remain the same.
The PM route adjustments will be as follows, please be aware of these adjustments if you meet your riders, or have someone meeting them for you.
1. The bus will make the Pearl St. stops first.
–it will begin at the Pearl St. and Groves St. intersection at approximately 3:48 PM, and then proceed North.
–please be aware that the riders on Pearl St. and Tyler St. will be arriving at their stops approximately 12-14 minutes earlier than they have in the past.
2. The bus will then proceed to Lakeside Dr.
–it will begin making Lakeside Dr. stops at approximately 3:58
–please be aware that the riders on Lakeside Dr. will be arriving at their stops approximately 10 minutes later than they have in the past.
3. The bus will then proceed to Lexington Dr.
–the Lexington Dr. stop will occur approximately 15 minutes later than in the past.
4. The route will then finish with the West St. stop, followed by the Groves St. stop.
–Each of these stops will occur approximately 20 minutes later than in the past.
Please be aware that these times could possibly vary somewhat based on the number of stops that day, and/or traffic in town. Thank you for your patience during this transition.
This Thursday and Friday (May 1-2) Mrs. Tina and Coach Willoughby's bus routes will be combined. Thank you for your patience.
This week, we are having to make a slight adjustment to our bus route. Instead of tomorrow (April 1), as originally scheduled, Mrs. Tina and Coach Willoughby's routes will be combined today, March 31. Thank you for your patience.
Hello Big Sandy. Over the next few weeks, we have occasional days where we will have to combine bus routes due to a shortage of drivers. During this time, Mrs. Tina's and Coach Willoughby's routes will be combined. Those days are: Today, Wednesday the 26th, Friday, March 28th, Tuesday, April 1st, Tuesday, April 8th, Thursday, April 17th, and Tuesday, April 22nd. Only the afternoon routes are impacted on these days. Thanks for your patience and understanding.
Hello Big Sandy. Today, the district was short one bus driver and one of our busses was delayed. The bus is now on its route and is picking kids up right now. No kids will be marked tardy and we apologize for the inconvenience.
Hello Big Sandy. The roads in our area are clear and good for travel meaning school will be held as normal starting at 8:00 am. It will be cold, so make sure you dress warm. See you all soon!
It has come to our attention that some media outlets are reporting that Big Sandy ISD is closed tomorrow. The outlets are referring to the Big Sandy ISD in Dallardsville, TX, not Upshur County. We will be open for business tomorrow, January 22, 2025!
Due to a temporary shortage of bus drivers, for at least the next month, Mrs. Tina's and Coach Willoughby's bus routes will be combined in the AFTERNOONS only. Thank you for your patience and we will let you know when we are back at full strength as soon as possible.
Hello Big Sandy Family. With the strong possibility of snowy and icy conditions over the next two days, Big Sandy ISD will be closed on Thursday, January 9th and Friday, January 10. All extracurricular activities for Thursday night have been canceled. More announcements will be made regarding Friday’s extracurricular activities soon. As always, the safety of our students and staff come first.
Hello Big Sandy Family. We can't wait to see all of our kids tomorrow morning. This is going to be a great semester. As most of you know, the district is monitoring the current weather conditions for later this week. We will communicate with you over the District's Facebook page, website and messaging service. As we get closer to the end of the week, we will make a decision regarding school based on the information we have from the National Weather Service and other experts at that time. Stay tuned!