SLO County schools will not reopen this year — Public Health officer ‘can guarantee’ it
San Luis Obispo County health officials on May 1 said there’s no way local schools will be able to open again this year under newly-released coronavirus reopening guidelines – even though some districts haven’t thrown in the towel yet.
County leaders rolled out a Steps to Adapt and Reopen Together, or START, guide, which details how to safely reopen businesses and public spaces following the coronavirus outbreak.
Once Gov. Gavin Newsom lifts California’s shelter-at-home order, the county is ready to enter Phase One, which includes opening some K-12 school facilities.
But that doesn’t mean schools will be allowed to hold in-person classes again this year, said Dr. Penny Borenstein, county public health officer.
“There’s no school district that’s going to open this school year,” Borenstein said at a May 1 news conference. “It’s just not going to happen. Even if the governor let us off tomorrow, and we got to Phase Two, where it says modified opening. I can guarantee you that no school district is opening this year.”
Paso Robles cancels in-person classes for the year
Not all county school districts have canceled in-person classes for the year.
San Luis Coastal and Lucia Mar unified school districts announced campus closures in April, but other districts have waited to officially announce students won’t be able to return this year.
Paso Robles Joint Unified School District — which extended its closure into mid-May earlier in the week — sent an email on May 1 officially announcing the full cancellation of in-person classes following Borenstein’s statements.
“The reopening of school will be in Phase Two, which won’t start until at least 30 days after Phase One is initiated,” Superintendent Curt Dubost wrote. “Since that hasn’t happened, we know now for certain we will not be allowed to reopen regular school this year. Dr. Penny Borenstein, county health official, confirmed that in direct answer to a question from a reporter during the public announcement this afternoon.”
When and how will schools reopen?
The Phase One guidelines permit a “partial reopening” of some school facilities to allow for an extended school year for some special education classes, as well as summer school, Borenstein said.
However social distancing and “strict operating standards for personal hygiene, sanitation of facilities and equipment, and other preventive measures” must remain in place, according to the START guide.
Phase Two of the START guide allows for a “modified reopening” of K-12 campuses, and Phase Three will permit a full reopening of school facilities.
Borenstein said officials are now trying to figure out how campuses will be able to open again for the start of the next school year in August or September.
“That’s why there is not a detailed guideline about schools,” she said. “Because that is going to be an ongoing conversation over the weeks to come about how the schools may be able to manage a safer environment, given their limitations of space and staff and money. That’s a work in progress.”
This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 6:31 PM.
