Will Bay Area schools reopen in-class this fall? Here's what we know - SFGate

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While concrete information is still scarce for many school districts in the region, some have revealed their plans, and others have hinted at what schooling in the coming academic year may look like.

When will my kids be back in class? It's the question on many Bay Area parents' lips right now.

After a tough slog through months of home learning, virtual tutoring and Zoom play dates, kids are really missing their friends, and parents are missing their time alone.

School districts have been doing what they can to keep students educated and healthy through the crisis that shuttered schools in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Free meals programs have fed students, technology such as Chromebooks have been handed out to kids without the means to learn virtually, and teachers have come up with all sorts of creative ways to keep children engaged.

But when can parents expect their children to be back in class?

While concrete information is still scarce for many school districts in the region, some have revealed their plans, and others have hinted at what schooling in the coming academic year may look like.

California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond said in a press briefing earlier this month that new guidance is available for schools reopening as the coronavirus continues to be a threat. Recommendations in the long set of suggestions included that students be spaced 6 feet apart, have their temperatures taken before entering the campus and that everyone should be wearing facial coverings.

The state's guidance suggests the implementation of a hybrid, or blended, instructional model in all K-12 districts. The model included what is called “A/B Week Blended Learning,” in which half of the students would be in school for four days a week while the other half is distance learning, with the students swapping the following week. On the fifth day, all students would learn remotely.

For the full 62-page set of guidelines from the California Department of Education, read here. 

But the guidelines largely left it up to individual districts to form their own plans.

"There are no mandates within this document. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach." Thurmond said.

For Bay Area parents keen to know what their specific public school's plans are, we gathered together what the various districts in the region have revealed so far.

San Francisco 

The San Francisco Unified School District has not yet let parents and students know when a detailed plan for reopening will be announced. A statement from Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews released on June 10 read: "Throughout June and early July, we will be gathering input and working diligently to create plans that incorporate health guidance, our district’s priorities and values and the input of our diverse community of staff, students and families."

While fall semester learning is due to begin on Aug. 17, further details on what that will look like are scarce. An FAQ for parents on reopening plans is available here.

Marin 

Unlike many school districts, Marin County has announced that it plans on reopening classrooms in-person in the fall.

Guidelines for students from transitional kindergarten to 12th grade is for children to be in class five days a week, a marked difference from the state's suggested "hybrid" model.

Mary Jane Burke, the Marin County superintendent of schools, said in a statement last week, “Even with the amazing work of schools and parents, we know that remote learning was not working for all and that many students were being left behind. We also know that the social emotional needs of our children are best met through the special relationships that are developed with their peers, their teachers, and school staff. The best place for students is in their schools.”

Oakland 

The Oakland Unified School District has said that following proposals and recommendations from over 100 leaders, teachers, staff, parents, and principals, the district will communicate some preliminary decisions on July 10 regarding how the school year will start.

The statement added that "all plans, of course, are subject to collective bargaining with our labor partners, affordability (or other constraints on feasibility), and may change as we learn more about the virus, and as new state or county public health guidance is provided."

The coming school year is due to start on Aug. 10.

For updates on OUSD's reopening plans, see here. 

San Mateo

The San Mateo Union High School District has released a proposed learning schedule, largely using the hybrid model suggested in the state's guidance. The plan outlines a five-phase schedule, moving from all remote learning to 100% in-class instruction.

In the face of guidelines but no definitive orders from the state, the San Mateo Union High School District Board of Trustees President Marc Friedman had complained about a lack of clear directives.

“It’s very difficult, because no one is telling us exactly what we should or shouldn’t be doing from a health viewpoint or an educational viewpoint. They are just giving us a bunch of broad viewpoints, so we are on our own,” Friedman told the San Mateo Daily Journal.

The San Mateo-Foster City School District has yet to release a reopening plan, but you can find updates here.

Santa Clara 

The Santa Clara County School District has revealed that it plans on announcing detailed reopening plans on July 1.

A statement on the district website reads, "We have convened a committee of teachers, school administrators, support staff, and District Office personnel to serve on the Reopening Planning Committee and subcommittees to develop a set of recommendations around multiple scenarios of what school may look like next fall."

For updates on SCUSD reopening plans, see here.

Fremont

The Fremont Unified School District is still in the research and parental-survey phase of creating concrete reopening plans.

A statement from acting Superintendent Raúl M. Zamora this week read, "Your opinions and comments will be used by the FUSD Task Force to shape policies and strategies going into the new school year - in whatever form it may take. I hope to present the framework of our plan to the community soon. This remains a team effort and I look forward to hearing your thoughts as we move through the process.

For updates on FUSD reopening plans, see here.

San Ramon 

After a series of focus groups and parental surveys on reopening, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District is set to presents its Planning and Guidance Document this week as part of its "Reopening Together" plan. The district states that this is just the first part of the plan. A statement on the district's website reads, "Remember, our Reopening Plan consists of several steps. The presentation of the initial draft of the plan is part of step 2 in the process. There will be no action or decisions made at the June 23 meeting."

For updates on SRVUSD reopening plans, see here.

Alameda

The Alameda Unified School District presented proposed schedules at the Board of Education meeting on June 9. All models of education, from remote to traditional learning, are being considered, and the Board expects to provide detailed proposals this week.

An FAQ on all matters related to the reopening of the district's schools can be found here.

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Other Bay Area school districts not mentioned in this story, including the Berkeley Unified School District, Mount Diablo Unified School District and Vallejo City Unified School District, have yet to provide details on when reopening plans may be released.

Andrew Chamings is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email: Andrew.Chamings@sfgate.com | Twitter: @AndrewChamings

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