Placer County is off the coronavirus watchlist. What does that mean for schools?

Placer County was removed off the state’s monitoring list, meaning schools there could potentially reopen in the coming weeks.

The county, the third to come off the list since the freeze caused by a data glitch was lifted, can proceed with on-campus learning at colleges and universities if it stays off the watchlist for three straight days. But it would need to have “good data” for 14 consecutive days to reopen K-12 campuses.

The removal Monday means state data showed Placer meeting all the necessary thresholds – fewer than 100 new cases per 100,000 residents in the preceding two weeks, stabilizing hospitalization rates and adequate available ICU beds and ventilators – for three consecutive days.

While county residents can breathe a sigh of relief, what that means for students and their shuttered schools is even more significant.

Michelle Eklund, Placer County Office of Education communications officer, said it’s too soon to tell when schools could reopen in the county.

Wednesday marked Day One for Placer County school districts. If they have few cases each day for 14 days, they can reopen. Any increase in cases would require the county to “restart the clock” and count to Day 14 all over again, potentially delaying plans to reopen.

Eklund said school districts have started to prepare teachers to reopen classrooms, but set plans are not in place.

“School districts are looking at what it looks like for in-person instruction,” Eklund said. “Are they going back five days a week? Hybrid model? It really starts the planning process all over again.”

Eklund also said parents should expect a series of starts and stops to in-person learning in coming months.

“There really is no certainty,” she said. “It’s a bit of a challenge, and it won’t be a one size fits all.”

Many parents and students opted for the virtual programs their schools are offering, so they can remain in a distance learning program if schools choose to reopen physically.

“Sentiment has changed over the last couple of months,” Eklund said, “Parents are trying to plan for the year.”

Rocklin Unified School District announced that students will return to campus on Sept. 8 in a hybrid model, if all goes well and the county remains off the watch list.

Eklund said she encouraged residents to practice state guidelines to stopping the spread of COVID-19 so schools can reopen.

“Anything that helps us stay off the watchlist will help get students into school quicker,” she said.

Not all schools are opening when their county is off the watchlist. Some schools in El Dorado County reopened this week, while others, such as Buckeye Union School District and all area high schools, remained closed.

This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 5:00 AM.