Corona-Norco USD Halts Reopening Of K-6 Classes

CORONA, CA — With the pandemic raging, the Corona-Norco Unified School District has voted to postpone the return of its elementary school students to campuses based on new requirements from the state.

Last week, the CNUSD board voted 3-2 to hold off on reopening to ensure the district's School Reopening and Safety Plan is in alignment with the new guidance from the state, CNUSD Superintendent Dr. Sam Buenrostro said in a January 2 letter to district families.

On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled the “Safe Schools for All Plan.” The governor said that, based on growing scientific evidence, schools can reopen with the right safety precautions in place to minimize in-school coronavirus transmission. The plan's details are expected to be released Friday.

With those state guidelines in hand, Buenrostro said the district will update its reopening plan to "create a timeline for implementation. Further discussion and consideration for the reopening of schools under the new guidelines will take place at our next regular business meeting on Jan. 19, 2021."

In early November, the CNUSD received a waiver from the state and county to reopen transitional kindergarten through sixth-grade campuses for in-person instruction. On November 1o, the district's board voted 3-2 to reopen the classrooms after the winter break, with members Jose Lalas, Bill Pollock and John Zickefoose casting the Yes votes.

According to the CNUSD's November plan, year-round elementary schools would have resumed in-person instruction on January 4, while traditional elementary schools would start January 11.

Once back in the classroom, the elementary schools would operate at 50 percent capacity with students being split into two cohorts, according to the district. The two groups would alternate between in-person and remote learning. For example, one cohort would attend in-person morning classes Monday through Thursday and work independently at home in the afternoons. The other cohort would attend afternoon classes Monday through Thursday and work independently at home in the mornings.

Both cohorts would learn from home on Fridays, according to the district.

Families uncomfortable with sending their kids back to in-person instruction would transfer to CNUSD's virtual program as space allowed, according to the district.

Now, with the latest update, elementary students in the district's "Traditional/Remote" program will remain in the distance learning model until further notice, according to Buenrostro.