MUSD to consider waiver option in evaluating instruction

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The interim superintendent of Menifee Union School District said this week he will seek input from parents, teachers and administrators regarding a possible waiver to reopen schools for in-person classes.

Dr. Gary Rutherford consulted with MUSD board members during the board’s regular meeting on Tuesday and said the process to evaluate the safety of such a reopening plan would move forward. Last week, Riverside County Public Health Officer Dr. Cameron Kaiser gave the go-ahead for county schools in grades K-6 to apply for a waiver from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state order regarding distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The waiver [announcement] was just released on Friday,” Rutherford told Menifee 24/7. “We are looking at the waiver. That includes a process of engaging with our community and our parents and our employees. We’ll start moving in that direction and monitor the rates of COVID and hope everything works out soon.”

Rutherford reported to MUSD board members that a waiver application will not be approved if the countywide COVID-19 rate is 200 or higher per 100,000 population. As of Aug. 21, the rate was 170. He said that a reopening plan "must be in place that addresses cleaning and disinfection protocols, keeping students in small, stable groups with fixed membership, control of movement within the school to avoid close contact, face coverings and other protective gear, health screenings, staff and family education, as well as other prescribed elements.”

Kaiser’s news release Aug. 21 stated, “The waiver process won’t be a rubber stamp, and
elementary schools will be required to publicly demonstrate they have the pieces in place to operate safely or they won’t be approved. We want exposure rates to be rare and, should an exposure occur, for the school to show they can handle it without putting others at risk.”

Before a decision is made about whether to apply for a waiver, MUSD administrators will meet with members of the Menifee Teachers Association. When MUSD was considering its Reopening Plan before Newsom’s state order, MTA President Shelli Sullivan said the association’s membership was virtually split on whether it was safe to return with in-person instruction.

“Our union will definitely be part of the conversation in regards to the waiver and the decision to provide what is the most safe and appropriate for our students, families, and membership,” Sullivan said. “We will survey our membership to get their input prior to conversations with the District.”

Menifee 24/7 is pursuing comment from officials of the Romoland School District and Santa Rosa Academy about their plans. As of today, 18 county elementary schools had applied for a waiver and two had been approved to resume in-person instruction – Cornerstone Christian in Wildomar and St. John’s School in Hemet.