Red Tier opens all schools next month

The opening of the elementary schools was already set in motion last week by the Lake Elsinore Unified School District Board. Now, with the announced Red Tier for Riverside County Wednesday, middle and high schools will join them for in-person instruction.

Canyon Lake students attend schools governed by the Lake Elsinore Unified School District.

Instead of a phased-in approach for elementary schools where two grade levels would begin every week, all grade levels through Grade 12 will begin in-person classes on April 12. Tk-Kindergarten-First Grade will still begin on April 5.

The board met last night after The Friday Flyer went to press, but it was expected to pass the Superintendent’s recommendation for the following:

Reopen secondary schools on April 12 with students returning with their assigned “cohort” while following both social distancing and utilizing face coverings.

Modify the current phase-in schedule to welcome students in grades Tk, Kindergarten and 1st on April 5 and grades 2nd-12th starting April 12.

Elementary and Secondary Cohort Hybrid schedules approved by the board in the first semester shall be followed.

The “cohort schedules” include half a day at school and half a day in distance home learning. Graphic charts of the schedules accompany this article.

The board approved the district’s COVID-19 Safety Plan at its board meeting last week. This safety plan is required to gain state approval for reopening in-person classes.

The plan included ensuring students were not all on campus at the same time so that social distancing could occur.

“All students WILL NOT be on campus at the same time to accommodate physical distancing requirements and provide time for intermittent cleaning and disinfecting when appropriate,” the district plan stated. “Classes have been built both for in-person as well as virtual distance instruction to ensure stable classroom groups based upon classroom space to ensure physical distancing. In-person classes shall be no larger than approximately half the number of students on the traditional roster, not to exceed 17 students, and shall accommodate six-foot physical distancing. Students and supervising adults in the classroom will stay together for all activities and avoid contact with people outside of their group.”

To reduce mixing with other students outside of the classroom, the schools will not conduct recesses or lunch. Classes may take outside breaks on a staggered schedule, but when they do, students will be six-feet physically distanced and will not interact with other classes of students. Instead of traditional lunch breaks, students will be given “Grab-n-Go” meal packs to take home to eat.

“Teachers and other site staff will provide instruction for all students on the proper use of PPE, handwashing at staggered intervals, covering coughs/sneezes and maintaining six feet of physical distancing,” the plan said.

The students will not share school supplies such as pencils, paper, crayons, scissors, etc., but instead will each be given their own supply bag of materials. Field trips, schoolwide assemblies and events have been suspended. Volunteers and parents will not be permitted on school grounds.

Gates and locations on campus will be assigned to families to physically distance students during arrival and departure. Upon arrival, students will walk through their assigned gates, have their temperature checked and go directly to their classroom to minimize the congregation of students. Each school has systems in place to assist students at arrival and dismissal.

Clear signage has been placed throughout school campuses to promote foot traffic flow and six feet physical distancing while walking to and from classrooms.

Bus transportation will not be offered.

An important part of the safety plan includes the wearing of face coverings. Staff and persons two years of age and older must wear face coverings while on school district property at all times, and may be temporarily removed while working alone in an office, eating and drinking. Masks must again be worn after eating and drinking. The face coverings must cover the mouth and nose. There are exceptions for those with medical conditions or those who are hearing impaired.

The safety plan includes myriad procedures for dealing with those who are sick or symptomatic.

Students and staff will wash or sanitize their hands upon arrival to the campus, after using the restroom, before and after meals and after coughing or sneezing. Hand sanitizer will be available in every classroom and students and staff will be reminded to wash or sanitize hands frequently throughout the day.

The board also approved the Resuming Athletics Schedules, which consisted of various sports and their schedules.

Although abbreviated, the teams will play several games before the end of the school year.