Sacramento school district delays start of school year to work on coronavirus plan

Natomas Unified School District announced Monday it would delay the start of the school year by two weeks, and use the time to implement more health and safety protocols as coronavirus cases continue to spike in the state.

Students will begin classes on Thursday, August 27.

The delay will allow the district more time to hire extra staff, add further layers of safety, to finalized the district’s educational options, and assess the situation in Sacramento County, according to a statement by Natomas Unified.

The district and the Natomas Teachers Association have started discussing the effects of their reopening plan, but have not yet come to an agreement.

The district previously announced schools will not fully reopen traditionally this fall. It is currently surveying families on how they would like to return. Students can return in-person, continue distance learning or enroll in the district’s independent study program.

Students who return in-person will be in much smaller classes. Students who feel they need to return five days a week will have the option to do so: English learners, students with an individual education plan or with special needs, and students who have working parents.

The district is also offering hybrid classes, where students return to school two days a week, and attend classes virtually on the days they are home.

Masks will be required for all students and staff, with some exceptions. Students will be required to physically distance from one other in class. All families will have access to a Google Chromebook and the internet.

This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 9:58 AM.