SCHOOL REOPENING IN CALIFORNIA COUNTIES MAPPED OUT

School districts are beginning to draft reopening plans with COVID-19 changes for the 2020-2021 school year, according to KCRA 3 News.

In a report, the media outfit said although each county office of education oversees school districts and offers guidelines to reopen consistent with state and federal guidelines, it is up to each school district to craft their individual plan.

Many are still figuring it out, but others with school starting in just weeks have more concrete plans.

Here's a look at reopening plans from three Northern California school districts:

Roseville City School District

The Roseville City School District has a start date of Aug. 6 and is giving parents three options to choose from.

1.   Traditional schedule, which is full-time in class five days a week following COVID-19 guidelines.

2.   Champions Academy, which is full-time online instruction.

3.   K-8 hybrid schedule, which is two days in class and three days at home.

Roseville is one of 16 school districts Placer County Office of Education oversees.

“We’re trying to make the best decisions based upon the information that we have. But, our world is constantly changing,” said Placer County Superintendent of Schools Gayle Garbolino-Mojica. “So, it’s requiring us to put a lot of tentative plans in place-- realizing we may have to change at a drop of a moment.”

Garbolino-Mojica estimates roughly 85% of its 75,000 students want some in-class instruction.

“I think our districts are working really, really hard to make that possible. And we realize that’s what the parents and the community want. We realize many parents go back to work and rely on the public school system,” she explained. “It’s a very collaborative effort. But literally, we’re a month away from our first school district opening and things could still change in that month. Not that we want it to change, but just knowing what’s out there with the rising cases of COVID-19.”

Lodi Unified School District

Lodi Unified School District starts school on Aug. 3. Parents have the option to sign up for full-time distance learning.

For the students who will attend school, some changes include requiring face masks or face shields and no-contact temperature checks. There are an additional 200 hand-washing stations, as well as recess and lunch will be held outside; however, students will not be allowed on the playgrounds.

Sacramento City Unified School District

Sacramento City Unified School District has a start date of Sept. 3. The district is using a three-phase approach to craft a reopening plan that includes research and community input, drafting a preliminary plan and, ultimately, a final plan.

SCUSD is currently in phase 1, which included a survey of students and parents.

More than 2,600 students participated in the survey. The district said 55% of respondents said they didn’t learn much during distance learning and felt they were given a lot of busy work without information or instruction.

A district spokesperson said roughly 5,000 parents participated in the survey and those results will be made public soon.

The school district is scheduled to present a preliminary reopening plan at the July 16 school board meeting.