School district to OK reopening timeline

The Draft School Reopening Plan 2020-21 was approved last week, opening the door for in-person instruction for students in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, of which Canyon Lake residents are a part.

The board, after approving the draft, scheduled a virtual Special Meeting for Thursday at 4:00 p.m. to approve a reopening timeline, learning models and schedules. The Final School Reopening Plan will be approved at this meeting.

“Reopening schools while COVID risk is substantial under the Red Tier is complex,” Superintendent Dr. Doug Kimberly said. “Traditional aspects of school are non-existent. Recess, on-campus lunch and transportation for general education are not possible under state guidelines that require social distancing for in-person learning.”

The Board of Trustees and executive staff have been working in unison with the Lake Elsinore Teachers Association and California School Employees Association and its Chapter 598 to develop plans to safely and effectively reopen schools this school year while minimizing learning disruptions.

The draft was approved after the board heard public comments and presentations by senior cabinet members and Dr. Kimberly. The school reopening plan will serve as the “constitution” or rulebook for reopening schools safely under COVID-19 pandemic conditions. The video presentation made at the meeting is available on the district website.

Prior to the board approving the draft, Dr. Kimberly described four converging efforts requiring board direction to finalize the plan:

Approval of the Draft School Reopening Plan, which was approved at the meeting.

Answer the question heard most from parents, “what will student schedules look like when in-person learning resumes?” by finalizing student schedules and learning models for elementary, middle school and high school. Reopening terms and schedules are under negotiation with the Lake Elsinore Teachers Association and the California School Employees Assn. and its Chapter 598.

Resurvey all parents/guardians to determine who wants to keep their children on 100% distance learning once at least some in-person instruction is allowed. A previous limited survey did not offer this option to all parents, which the district wants to rectify.

Set a Special Meeting of the Board to finalize the district’s reopening timeline, learning models and schedules to finalize the School Reopening Plan.

The Board agreed with the four efforts and directed staff to immediately proceed with all four.

In the 14-day interim since Riverside County entered the red tier, county numbers for case and test positivity teetered between the purple and red tier. Schools are permitted to reopen under the red tier, but not under purple, county health officials have stated.

“Our number one priority is providing a minimally disruptive reopening with maximum safety for students, families, and staff,” Board President Heidi Dodd said.