Chino Valley Unified School District meeting room with the board which was used for an emergency meeting.
BREAKING NEWS: CVUSD Board gives possible dates for returning to in person learning
The CVUSD Board of Education held a meeting on February 18, 2021 to discuss the return of in person learning. After much discussion, the board is actively considering giving the okay in allowing students to return to school.
Superintendent Dr. Norm Enfield explained that the first group of students allowed to return would include Transitional Kindergarten through 6th Grade while we remain in the Purple tier, the most restrictive. The criteria for the return of tK-6th graders is that the number of cases in San Bernardino must be below 25 cases per 100,000 people for 5 consecutive days, with the fifth day being reached today. In order for 7th-12th graders to return, San Bernardino must enter the Red tier. Dr. Enfield revealed, “As a matter of fact, they [the County Health Department] shared with me that if we continue to move in the right direction, they strongly believe that in March, we will probably be in the Red.” The county has been moving in the right direction as cases last week were 32 cases per 100,000, 20.08 cases this week, and will hopefully reach single digits by next week.
In my conversation with the County Health Department, they are very confident that we will hit the 5-day mark tomorrow
— Dr. Norm Enfield
As cases are actively declining, preparations and precautions are being implemented to ensure the safety of all students and staff. Teachers and staff have been given the opportunity to receive the Coronavirus vaccine in regards to the first steps of returning to in person learning. The district has offered 900 doses to teachers and employees over the course of three days. There is still much to discuss, however, possible dates of return have been given. After remaining below 25 cases for 5 consecutive days, tK-3rd grade have been given a possible chance to return to school March 3rd, and grades 4th-6th have been given the possibility of returning to school March 8th. This is not a final decision, but a suggestion made by the President of the board, Joe Schaffer.
The CVUSD Board of Education will be in active communication with parents within the next following days. Letters will be administered to inform parents on the measures that are being taken. Board member, Christina Gagnier, suggested they hold an emergency special board meeting this upcoming Tuesday, February 23, to discuss how the reopening will look like in terms of phasing in students who have not been on campus for a while, or at all.