Local officials not sure governor’s idea to open in July will be feasible
By Ted Apodaca
In his Tuesday briefing on the Coronavirus situation, California Governor Gavin Newsome floated the possibility of reopening schools as early as late July, in order to address the problem of learning loss. That idea was a surprise to most educational officials, who have expressed concerns about being ready to bring students back into classrooms that early.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond issued a statement expressing his surprise at hearing the idea, but acknowledged that it could help address issues facing students recovering from learning loss, which he said affects the most vulnerable students.
However, Thurmond also said there would be a lot of logistics to deal with.
“If this is going to work, there are some major questions we will have to answer. First and foremost: Can this be done in a way that protects the health and safety of our students, teachers, and school staff?” Thurmond said in a statement.
“We also must consider the fiscal implications. Social distancing in schools may require smaller class sizes, but schools are going to need additional resources to make it happen—including the possibility of hiring more teachers. Additionally, teachers and school staff will need personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies so that our schools are sanitized. We expect that some form of social distancing will be with us through the summer, so if we start school early, we need resources to make it a reality,” Thurmond added.
Officials from Long Beach Unified School District also stated that the governor’s idea was new information to the district.
“There’s no firm decision yet, so we’ll continue to monitor the state’s guidance. Our local school calendar is developed in close consultation with labor partners, including teachers, and we would need to collaborate regarding potential changes,” LBUSD said in a released stement.
State Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell, who represents Catalina Island, weighed in, suggesting that summer school classes would better benefit students who need help, rather than trying to start full classes early.
“While learning loss is an important issue, summer school will play an even larger role in helping students get up to speed on their education,” said Assemblymember O’Donnell.
Many school districts already begin their school years in August already. In the long run, deciding when to reopen schools would fall to the discretion of school districts and local health officials.
