Return to on-campus classes in January OKd

Canyon Lake students will begin on-campus classes early next year after The Lake Elsinore Unified School District Board of Trustees approved the move at a special board meeting last week.

The board approved a recommendation to extend Distance Learning for all grades to Dec. 18, the end of first semester. At the beginning of the second semester and subject to being in the COVID-19 Red Tier, the board approved some in-person instruction for all grades. Those on-campus classes would begin on Jan. 13.

Riverside County is currently in the Purple Tier as determined by the state. Should the county still be in the Purple Tier in January, the board approved reassessing health conditions and reopening timelines making sure parents and staff are given advance notice of any changes.

“Reopening schools in January 2021 allows time to align and rebuild master schedules and staffing assignments for the second semester start,” Superintendent Dr. Doug Kimberly said.

In-person schedules by grade level and learning models were presented to the trustees for review based on committee recommendations. Schedules were presented at the meeting and are intended to finalize the district’s Draft School Reopening Plan that trustees adopted two weeks ago. The Final School Reopening Plan will be posted on district websites complete with elementary, middle and high school student schedules.

Earlier this week, county health officials announced the state required the move back to the Purple Tier, the most restrictive tier under California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. In the Purple Tier, schools that are not already open will continue distance learning. A waiver process to reopen elementary schools only requires county health approval. Because reopening schools in January depends on returning to the Red Tier, county health officials said they urge all residents to continue hygiene, social distancing and wearing facial coverings so COVID-19 can decrease and restrictions will ease.

Special Education students with Moderate/Moderate-Severe disabilities may be allowed to return to school campuses in small group cohorts beginning in early November. LEUSD is in negotiations regarding start dates.

Small group cohorts of 14 students plus two adults (also referred as a 14:2 ratio) are allowed to be on campus by local health authorities and under current state guidelines. They may be broken down into smaller groups, provided a main cohort and their smaller groups do not connect with any other cohorts.

Each school will notify eligible families about those Special Education students who will be targeted for participation in small group cohorts. Student schedules for small group cohort services and instructions for safely returning to their schools while meeting COVID-19 pandemic requirements will be provided to families.