Placer County schools release guidelines to reopening schools for in-person classes

The Placer County Office of Education released guidelines to reopen special programs at schools for in-person classes this fall, implementing many strategies to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

School is set to begin in August. Most parents are ready to send their children back to campus, according to the framework released by the county.

The county said it will not be giving additional guidance for schools, and districts would independently decide on how to implement state guidelines for reopening.

The county did however issue guidelines for special education, alternative education, and court and community schools where students learn in juvenile detention. Those schools and classes will implement physical distancing in schools when possible and on buses, put students in cohorts to reduce contact between crowds and conduct temperature checks as needed. While staff members are required to wear masks, students are not, but officials said this could change with mandates from the California Department of Public Health.

The office of education also shared the county’s guidelines on isolation if one comes into contact with a person with COVID-19.

Specific class scheduling will be up to each school district to determine for its entire student body. Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District surveyed parents, but stated it intends to open with in-person instruction Aug. 5.

“However, this, too, may change based on future State and local mandated orders,” read a statement from the Dry Creek district. “We are in constant communication with Placer and Sacramento County Department of Public Health, Placer County Office of Education and leaders from surrounding school districts to ensure we have the most current information to base reopening decisions upon. We will notify families as soon as possible if alterations are necessary. If public health officials do mandate a reduction of people on campus at any time, a hybrid learning model will be implemented. If public health officials order schools to close, Dry Creek will transition to distance learning.”

Both students and staff will be required to wear masks and sit 6 feet from each other.

Placer County schools closed in mid-March for nearly 75,000 students in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. The county also includes schools in Granite Bay, Roseville and Rocklin.

This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 2:07 PM.