Schools backtrack on opening after increased coronavirus numbers

M O R A G A >> A lthough schools in Moraga were set to reopen in a hybrid model Monday, the school board backtracked in an 11th- hour decision in an emergency meeting late Friday afternoon.

Moraga School District S up er i nt endent Bruc e Bu r n s le a r ne d F r id ay morning from the Contra Costa County public health depar tment that the county would likely go from the current red tier to the stricter purple tier on Nov. 24 and no later than Dec. 1. As the county’s number of coronavirus cases increases, the restrictions the count y health department places shifts the county from different colored tiers; purple is the most restrictive.

The board had recently decided that if the county would go back to the purple tier, it would trigger the schools closing again. This would mean that if schools reopened Monday, and the county went to pur ple tier the nex t week, schools would only be open for a week.

On Monday, only trans i t ion a l k i nde r g a r t e n through second- graders would have been back to in-person learning; about 70 students at three of the four campuses. Those families who wish to remain in distance learning could so. About 28% of the elementary school parents have committed to stay ing in distance learning, according to the district.

T he board ultimately decided to not reopen on Monday, with the caveat that once the county went back to the red tier, the district would make quick moves to reopen as soon as possible.

Under the d is t r ic t ’ s or ig ina l pla n, other grades would have been ph a se d ba ck i nto inperson lea r ning: third through fif th grades in D e c emb e r a nd si x ththrough eighth- graders in January, after the winter break. The district agreed to a hybrid model, where groups of children would attend in- person classes every other week.

At le a s t 21 p e ople , most ly pa rent s, spoke at the emergency board meeting Fr iday dur ing public comment. Of those, about a third did not want schools to reopen on Monday. The majority, however, said that their children were excited to return to school on Monday, and some said that it was v ital to their children’s social- emotional well- being.

T he boa rd members seemed to struggle with the decision on whether o stop Monday’s reopening. Board member Jon Nickens said there was a strong desire to reopen schools for in- person instruction, but acknowledged there was no benefit to turning around and closing again when the county reached the purple tier.

“We are in a moment to come good to the commitment we made, to pivot, even if it feels coming at the 11th hour,” said board President Heather Davis.

Board member Jennifer Chng agreed.

“To me, it seems like this is a place to pause. I do think we’ve done a lot of prep, but I don’t think any of that is in vain,” she said.