Board approves distance learning for all high school students

Editor’s note: This is a highly emotional and complex issue. We urge our followers to read the entire story and to follow our ongoing coverage over the next few weeks as details are announced. We are in the process of reaching out to administrators, teachers and parents to facilitate communication during this process.

By Doug Spoon, Editor



The Perris Union High School District governing board voted unanimously Wednesday night to approve a school reopening plan of full distance learning for all students to start the school year at Paloma Valley, Heritage and Perris high schools.

Board members said they believe it isn't possible to ensure the health and safety of students and staff on campus, at least to start the school year. The situation will be re-evaluated during the first semester, considering changes in the health guidelines. A hybrid learning model could be considered as a transition from full distance learning to traditional learning when it is deemed safe to do so.

This decision affects only high school students. Elementary school districts in Menifee have not yet made their decision.

Board members said they wanted to emphasize that this decision was made with the safety of everyone as the top priority. They also insisted that the action included a commitment to re-evaluate the online learning model at appropriate intervals, perhaps as soon as the six-week or 12-week grading period.

“We will always have the safety and well-being of students and staff as the top priority,” said board member Jose Luis Araux. “Today we have the ability with this action to show that. It is clear that we are not now able to keep the students and staff safe in a campus environment.”

“I believe wholeheartedly that this is right,” board member Edward Garcia said. “It is morally and ethically the right thing to do for our students and staff. I agree with many of the statements we heard today. What would we do in all those situations? We don’t have those answers right now.”

Garcia referred to public comments, submitted via email to the virtual meeting, by 28 individuals – primarily teachers in the school district. Every one of them said that full distance learning was the only safe option, with some including lists of as many as 15 concerns about health and safety that most agreed could not be sufficiently addressed in a campus setting with the rate of COVID-19 cases continuing to climb.

Riverside County reported an increase of 856 confirmed cases of coronavirus in one day on Wednesday. And more locally, since June 26, there have been 157 reported cases of COVID-19 in Menifee. This means that 37 percent of the city's nearly four-month total of 430 cases has been reported in the last 12 days.

Also on Wednesday, the public health director of neighboring Los Angeles County stated that she had serious concerns about whether schools could open next month because of the increasing transmission of COVID-19. There has been no official statement on the subject from the Riverside County public health or education departments.

Some of the questions raised by teachers and parents during Wednesday’s meeting:

-- If someone on campus tests positive for COVID-19, will the district provide testing for staff members?

-- How will social distancing and sanitation guidelines be maintained during lunch? At PE class? How will hand washing be monitored?

-- Will students be monitored in hallways and other areas outside class to ensure social distancing?

-- How will the air flow in classrooms be monitored and kept healthy for those inside?

-- How will teachers enforce the health guidelines for students who refuse to follow them?

-- How will students in classrooms that have tables rather than individual desks be safely distanced?

Jason Miller, president of the Perris Secondary Educators Association, reported that PSEA members endorse a fully online learning model. Joshua Rushing, representing the district’s classified employees union, said a current survey of members shows that 66 percent would be “uncomfortable” returning to work on campus.

“I want to be in the classroom,” said Michael Wilson, a teacher at Paloma Valley High School. “Unfortunately, circumstances require we go in a different direction at this time. There’s a reason schools were one of the first things to shut down. It would be irresponsible to reopen at this time.”

Board members acknowledged that very few parents submitted public comments, and superintendent Grant Bennett reported that in the most recent PUHSD survey, about 70 percent of the 3,500 parents responding said they favored traditional classroom learning. In the end, however, board members' concerns over safety on campus appeared to be the determining factor.

Joe Williams, executive director of technology for PUHSD, outlined a plan for extensive training for teachers regarding online instruction. He said 300 teachers in the district already have some experience in online instruction and that 150 teachers have applied to be certified in that specialized form of instruction.

Williams and Bennett made it clear that the distance learning model of instruction in the upcoming school year would be much different than the temporary distance model that was hastily put in force in March, in which teachers and students were “held harmless” for consequences of inconsistencies in the format.

In the distance learning program, students will be required to attend class virtually and will have required assignments to complete. Student learning assessments will be conducted and there will be daily interaction between teacher and student.

According to Bennett, all possible accommodations will be made for students interested in participating in athletics, band, and other activities that would require some form of face-to-face interaction at the school -- assuming that type of interaction is allowed by health officials. Plans are also in place to make sure special education and English learning students receive all the resources that are needed. In addition, mental health programs will be put in place to minister to the emotional needs of students.

Each teacher will have a webpage with contact and basic information and will use multiple platforms to engage and interact with students, minimizing the burden on parents as much as possible.

Details on all these plans will announced in the weeks to come. Bennett said administrators are considering taking two “personal development” days from the teachers’ October calendar and moving them to the first week of August, giving teachers extra time to complete training in online instruction before the opening of the school year -- which would be pushed back a few days.