School board trustees on Thursday are expected to vote on a reopening plan that will begin with full distance learning when school starts.

Del Norte Unified School District staff are recommending a phased reopening that culminates in a blended learning model that has students in the classroom two full days a week and distance learning the remaining three days of the week.

Staff also recommend the Board of Trustees work with the Del Norte Teachers Association and California School Employees Association Great Northern 178, which represents the district’s certificated and classified staff, to adjust the school year calendar.

According to the recommendation, the current school year calendar is inadequate to provide the training and support students, teachers and families need.

“Three days currently exist in which all certificated staff training related to regular, annual and COVID-19 mandated personnel, safety, distance learning, instructional practices and other topics may be given,” DNUSD’s report states. “Classified staff only have one day currently available on the calendar to receive these same trainings.”

The DNUSD Board of Trustees’ special meeting comes after Del Norte High School released its proposal for reopening, which also begins in Phase 1 of the district’s “continuum of learning.” Aligned to California’s Roadmap to Resilience, the “continuum of learning” will have students alternate between full distance learning and a full reopening of schools based on Del Norte’s overall progress in addressing the spread of COVID-19.

Del Norte County has had no new cases reported as of Wednesday, according to the COVID-19 Information Hub. There are currently two active cases, however.

Del Norte High’s proposal starts with full distance learning on the first day of school before transitioning into Phase 2 three weeks into the year. At the high school, Phase 2 will have students learning remotely in the morning and meet in small cohorts in classrooms in the afternoon, according to DNUSD Superintendent Jeff Harris.

The high school’s system will be re-evaluated about six weeks in to determine what needs to be adjusted, Harris told the community via video on Monday.

The DNUSD Board of Trustees will meet at 1 p.m. Thursday via Zoom. The meeting will also be live streamed on You Tube and Facebook. People can also participate in public comment by clicking here and view an agenda by clicking here.

The district will also hold two virtual town hall meetings to gather public input about special education and the reopening of school this fall.

Documents

• Reopening Recommendation

• DNHS Reopening Proposal

• Continuum of Education

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