South Lake Tahoe schools to reopen August 31 with distance learning

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) Board of Trustees voted unanimously to start the school year August 31 in the first of a four phases - Distance Learning.

Faced with a decision that wouldn't keep all families happy, the District said they took guidance from California's education, public health and safety agencies to make the best decision for the health and safety of students and teachers. It will be guidance from those same agencies to provide the specific parameters which will allow LTUSD to move from Phase 1 to Phase 4, traditional in-person learning.

Parents are concerned with how they can be at home with their children as many workplaces have reopened, many expressing their displeasure at the Board's decision on social media.

"The best way to teach children is in person," said LTUSD Board President Larry Reilly, a long-time teacher himself. "But, I don’t believe this town is safe."

Reilly echoed the opinion of Trustee and Board Clerk Troy Matthews on the COVID-19 cases in the community continuing to grow as tourism appears to be at above-average rates with full beaches, trails, and grocery stores.

"We need to come together and do the best we can with the cards we’re dealt," said parent John Friedrich during the public comment portion of the meeting. "Come together as a community when spread is lower." He asked for city leaders to think of the kids and keep crowds out of South Lake Tahoe, crowds he said are keeping COVID-19 numbers up.

As of the time the board voted Thursday, El Dorado County as a whole met levels to stay open and not have further closures under the Governor's health guidelines. The South Lake Tahoe area of the county is different with the highest rate of COVID-19 and infection rates. To date, 294 residents of the Lake Tahoe region of the county have tested positive, 113 of those coming in the last 14 days. The region rate for infection is 374 per 100,000 people. El Dorado County's 14-day infection rate is 124 per 100,000. The El Dorado County Public Health Officer, Dr. Nancy Williams, has said the county could be put on the Governor's Watch List within a few weeks.

LTUSD will move through the phases as health directives warrant. At this time, each phase is planned for six weeks with a decision on the following phast to be made two weeks prior to it starting. If COVID-19 infections are still on the rise and safety guidance warrants, the District could stay in its current phase longer. Or, if those same numbers show an opposite trend, a phase could be shorter, or even skipped.

Phase 1 - All schools closed for in-person instruction, with the exception of children at-risk as identified by teacher or need. LTUSD will enact a food service program, all athletics are suspended, all inter-school activities are discontinued and all after-school activities are suspended.
Phase 2 - In-person instruction via a hybrid cohort model. Every ten days, students would be distance learning five days, and in the class room five days. Masks would be required by all students in grades 3-12 with younger ages encouraged but not required to wear them. Lunchroom and busing protocols would be in place.
Phase 3 - A modified cohort plan with both A and B cohorts in class at the same time four days a week, and one day a week distance learning for pre-K to 5th grade, and grades 6-12 would be on the same cohort schedule as Phase 2. As community spread decreases, cohort sizes can increase, thereby allowing for the return of elementary students to a 5 day/week schedule. Indoor events are limited to 50 people. Outdoor events are limited to 250 people. Spectators not part of the same household must always maintain six feet of distance from one another.
Phase 4 - Traditional Classroom instruction

Depending on the current pandemic situation, phases can be extended, or, if necessary, the District can move backwards, depending on safety protocols.

All digital learning for the complete school year is also an option for those not wanting to go into the classroom.

All board members agreed that it is important to get students back in the classroom as soon as possible, not only for important in-person instruction, but for social and emotional support.

Board Trustee Bonnie Turnbull said the beginning of the school year is important and allows students to get comfortable with teachers. She asked for a plan for teachers to meet with students one-on-one, either in person or with a video call.

"STEA recognizes they are in a difficult situation, members want to be back with students as soon as possible, when safe," said the South Tahoe Educators Association (STEA) President Jodi Dayberry.

LTUSD will be offering breakfast and lunches, no matter which phase the school is in. That plan is being worked on and information will be released prior to the beginning of school.

A new program LTUSD will be using will keep track of attendance and distance learning students will be required to participant in a virtual classroom for the required number of hours per day.

Ninety-three percent of schools in California will open the new school year with distance learning. El Dorado County's 15 school districts will each decide independently how they will reopen while working with local public health officials and community stakeholders.

In other area school districts, Tahoe Truckee decides on August 5 how their school year will start, but with their being on the Governor's Watch List, the only way may be a remote learning model. A county must be off the list for 14 days in order to reopen to in-person instruction.

Douglas County schools at Lake Tahoe are reopening in the classroom due to their small class sizes. They are able to spread out, but the county schools in the valley have adopted a cohort schedule were students are in the classroom one day, digital learning the next. Washoe County School District starts the school year with middle and high schools on a hybrid plan and elementary schools in an in-person instruction model.

Nevada schools do not have the same health guidance protocols as California.

LTUSD Superintendent Todd Cutler, who has worked with a reopening team both inhouse and within the community, said the plan is a "living" document that can be edited along the way for what is best for the students and teachers. He started with the reopening group and plan weeks prior to his first day on the job, July 1.

During Thursday's emergency meeting, up to 174 parents and community members were on the virtual meeting via their phones and computers. Teachers and staff were also in the meeting virtually.

Parent Kathy Haven suggested to the Board they wait to start the school year on October 1, giving time for things to "settle down," giving them time to plan better for starting in a different phase. She also suggested all classrooms be equitable with supplies and rquiring teachers in classroom. Since teachers may be parents as well, Haven said the District could work on a plan for their children as well.