Administrators: School reopenings are still several weeks off

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Hanging like a dark cloud over the celebration by Menifee residents returning to indoor service at local businesses is a huge source of frustration.

Students throughout the city remain stuck in front of their home computers instead of sitting in class – and it appears that won’t change soon.

Judging from the comments of administrators and board members in three local school districts, Riverside County’s move to the less restrictive red tier in the COVID-19 recovery plan does not necessarily accelerate a return to in-person learning. It appears that even a transition to a hybrid learning model would not begin until late October or early November.

Gary Rutherford, interim superintendent of Menifee Union School District, told board members at Tuesday’s meeting that he expected mid-October to be the earliest move forward, in a hybrid learning format. The hybrid model, which was described in detail by all local districts prior to the start of distance learning, would send half of the student body to campus two days a week and the other half to campus on two other days.

Administrators in MUSD, Romoland School District and Perris Union High School District said full-time distance learning would remain available to students throughout the school year. It’s the move toward in-person instruction that all plan to approach slowly, even though school districts in the red tier are allowed by the state to reopen classrooms.

Like everything else related to COVID-19, state guidance is open to interpretation.

“The red tier says you can operate at no more than 50 percent capacity,” said Rutherford, referring to the numbers attached to business reopenings. “To us, that means hybrid. We could start that, but we can’t come back to a traditional model yet because we can’t provide the social distancing.”

Administrators agree that it would be difficult, if possible at all, to fit 30 or more students in classrooms with desks six feet apart. Other problems have been noted as well. Rutherford said that, depending on the percentage of students who want to leave distance learning and return at least part-time to campus, some staff would have to be reassigned duties and some students might be reassigned to a different teacher.

At Tuesday’s board meeting of the Romoland School District, superintendent Trevor Painton outlined a tentative timeline that calls for a move to the hybrid learning model on Nov. 2.

“We’re looking at a gradual re-population of our campuses,” Painton said. “Nov. 2 is the beginning of a trimester. It’s a natural point to bring some students back.

“We would still have questions. If the data is all good and we’re ready, do we stagger groups of students on campus? The group that signed up for virtual learning could stay in that. How many others would be ready to come back to campus?”

Another factor for all districts is negotiations with two unions – teachers associations and classified employees associations. John Murray, director of human resources for Romoland SD, said Tuesday that “both associations are working collaboratively with HR to maintain protocol.” He said negotiation sessions will be held soon.

Meanwhile, the district is conducting one-on-one, in-person assessments with special needs students and is preparing for in-person instruction. MUSD is doing the same.

At a meeting last week, Perris Union High School District board members approved the extension of distance learning for six more weeks -- to the end of the next grading period – said Candace Reines, deputy superintendent for PUHSD.

“The board had previously decided they would determine the instructional delivery model or models in advance of each upcoming grading period,” Reines said. “Now that Riverside County has moved into the red tier status, the board will use this information, as well as all other available information, to make their decision as it relates to subsequent grading periods.”

MUSD will send parents and teachers an online survey in the next few days for an update on opinions about learning models, Rutherford said.

“We will revisit the survey with parents and the community,” Rutherford said. “We will also check with the employees and get their preference for placement.

“The hybrid model acknowledges that students spend two half-days on campus. Families may not consider that more beneficial than staying home. We do believe the majority are in favor of returning.”

Board members requested that survey results be made available to them in time for an Oct. 8 meeting to discuss the next steps.