Mt. Diablo leans toward remote learning
School district leaders say starting the year that way on Aug. 13 would be safest for everyone
As the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in Contra Costa County, the Mt. Diablo Unified School District board indicated Monday it wants to begin the new school year on Aug. 13 with a full dose of distance learning.
Board members told staff they feel that’s the safest option after hearing from dozens of teachers and parents who called into the meeting to urge them to keep students away from campus at least for a while longer.
The school board didn’t take a vote but instructed staff to come up with an approach that begins the school year with distance learning and allows some in-person classes to be phased in later when the coronavirus pandemic shows signs of waning.
Jennifer Sachs, who oversees instructional support for the 56-campus district, presented the board with options that included distance learning only, a hybrid model with students alternating into classrooms about two days a week and distance learning the other days, and full-time classroom instruction for some students, primarily those with special needs or in specialized learning programs.
Staff suggested the hybrid approach, but giving students the option to do all their learning online from home.
Dozens of teachers spoke against a return to the classroom, saying they were concerned for students and families’ safety as well as their own.
“As much as I am tired of the distance learning … not doing distance learning would put people at an unsafe place right now,” a special education assistant who didn’t give her name told the board. “It’s hard on the parents, it’s hard on the teachers and it’s hard on the students, but it’s the only way to keep people safe.”
While not every person who called into the meeting agreed with her — one teacher who’s also a parent said the need for students to interact with and support each other outweighs safety risks — most expressed a desire to start the year off remotely.
Even in a hybrid model, hundreds of students would be coming to campus each day, pointed out a resources specialist at Pleasant Hill Middle School who called into the meeting.
“I realize many of our students do not learn best at home,” she said. “It’s not ideal but it is necessary for their safety.”
“My preference is 100 percent distance learning,” said board member Cherise Khaund. “It seems to be safest for our children and for our staff.”
Board trustees acknowledged everyone won’t be happy with the eventual decision
“It really breaks my heart when I think about the situation around child care, for families who need to be working,” trustee Linda Mayo said. “We’re going to have more families who are homeless and living in their cars.”
Mt. Diablo Unified is one of the largest school districts in Contra Costa County, encompassing the cities of Clayton, Concord, Pleasant Hill and parts of Martinez, Pittsburg and Walnut Creek as well as unincorporated Bay Point, Lafayette and Pacheco. It has more than 31,000 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade at 56 campuses, five high schools, one continuation high school, two adult education centers, nine middle schools, 28 elementary schools and six alternative schools.
Contra Costa County has seen a rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations over the last week. In addition to falling under state orders Monday to shut down hair salons, offices and indoor malls, the county had already suspended indoor worship services over the weekend after its seven-day average rate of positive COVID-19 test results exceeded 8%.
Other districts are grappling with the same choices. West Contra Costa Unified schools will start the year with all-distance learning, then phase students back into classrooms when conditions improve. Students in east Contra Costa’s Liberty Union High School District will get a mix of classes and online home instruction, while some Brentwood and Oakley school districts will continue with full-time distance learning.
Adam Clark, Mt. Diablo Unified’s new superintendent, advised the board and district community to remain flexible and “respect the voices of everyone” as they adapt to the changing circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic.
The board approved Clark’s contract on Monday, which will pay him a base annual salary of $298,000, plus a $2,000 annual stipend for his advanced degree and a $300 monthly travel allowance.
Clark previously served as superintendent of the Vallejo City Unified School District and succeeds Robert Martinez, who was let go by the Mt. Diablo school board in the spring without cause.