Local schools weigh reopening plans amid the COVID-19 pandemic

Schools in Humboldt County have a number of plans ready for potentially reopening in the fall, but the route they take still hinges on public health guidelines as coronavirus cases rise.

Most public schools will begin the next academic year sometime in August. The focus remains on health and safety, though districts have taken note of a recent tweet by President Trump threatening to withhold federal funding for schools that don’t reopen.

At Eureka City Schools, there are three options on the table: Reopen back to normal, keep full distancelearning in place or try for a middle ground.

“We thought our plans were starting to solidify and then we’ve had this uptick in COVID happen

ing in the state and in Humboldt County,” said Fred Van Vleck, the district’s superintendent. “The reality for us is we’re going to follow the guidance — we’ll put those plans in place, it’s just a question of which one of those we’re going to land on.”

If they go with the third option, schools will likely keep students in classroom pods to learn and eat only with each other, so that if one student gets COVID-19, they’re less likely to spread it widely and prompt a shutdown. Recess will also be concerted with individual cohorts. The number of cases this summer will dictate the final call. Humboldt County’s case count has sharply risen in the past two weeks after a brief slowdown.

In smaller districts, the choice is easier. Trinidad Union School District has its sights set on a “blended model,” said Alyse Nichols,

the district’s new superintendent.

“Our goal, because we know distance learning was really hard on kids, is to get kids on campus to have some interaction with teachers and peers,” said Nichols, who came onto the job two weeks ago.

Both districts say they will provide the option for parents not to send students back to school. Van Vleck called it a “very personal decision.”

“Families need to sit down and have that conversation and make the best judgment,” he said.

Federal funding remains important to public schools, though California’s latest budget approval will guarantee funds for districts even in the absence of another Congress-approved coronavirus stimulus package.

A recent tweet by President Trump has made it onto the districts’ radar.

“In Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, SCHOOLS ARE OPEN WITH NO PROBLEMS,” Trump tweeted on

Wednesday morning.

“The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election, but is important for the children & families. May cut off funding if not open!” the president added.

Van Vleck said he saw the tweet, but that it hasn’t weighed into the district’s equation, yet.

“The president has not done anything at this point other than make a threat,” Van Vleck said. “Until there is some law enacted that says, if you do not open school you will lose funding, it will not be part of our decision-making process.”

Nichols similarly said the Trinidad district will focus on students’ safety instead of politics.

“There’s going to be political talk about almost everything, but we’re really trying to keep our decisions based in science and the recommendations from the health department,” Nichols said.