OUSD Board Votes For Return To In-Person Secondary Instruction

The OUSD Board of Education voted at the March 9 regular board meeting to have all secondary students in all middle and high school grades return to campus in a hybrid in-person instructional model the week of March 29. This action was taken in anticipation of San Diego County entering the less-restrictive Red Tier, allowing for the return of secondary students to in-person learning. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) does not allow for in-person learning for secondary students until the county is in the Red Tier. The Board provided direction for staff working groups to continue collaboration to develop schedules for middle and high school, which will be communicated by school staff when available. As a reminder, elementary students will be returning next week on March 15th.

OUSD will continue to monitor local health data and San Diego county’s return to the Red Tier. Once the county is in the Red Tier OUSD has three weeks to make the transition to secondary in-person learning. During the three weeks following the first day in the Red Tier, OUSD is able to transition to hybrid in-person instruction even if the county goes up or down a tier within that three-week period. With the case rates’ downward trend, preparations on campuses, and vaccines now available for all staff in OUSD, we have prepared for the safest return possible.
Following updated California Department of Public Health guidance, all scholars and staff returning to campus will see new safety protocols in place. For example, per the CDPH Guidelines, OUSD will make every possible effort to provide six feet separation between students and will meet the minimum required distance of at least four feet. Teachers will have the six feet of required space. Students will not be temperature checked upon entering campus, but should be self-screening at home for COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough and runny nose. It is important to keep your child at home if they are sick, and follow this decision tree if they are showing any of the symptoms of COVID-19.

Stay informed by regularly checking updates from San Diego County Public Health Services, the California Public Health Department, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), our Safely Reopening OUSD website, and Commonly Asked Questions page.