FRESNO, CA. (KMJ) — Clovis Unified wants to get elementary students back on campus. But it likely won’t happen until close to Thanksgiving.
November third, Presidential election day is when Clovis Unified hopes to get kindergarten thru sixth-grade students back on campus.
It’s currently working on a waiver to present to the Fresno County Office of Education. It has to spell out schedules, safety precautions on campus and how it will create classrooms with six-foot distancing.
The plan has to be reviewed by state and county education leaders plus Fresno County Health.
After that Deputy Superintendent Norm Anderson says there will be more meetings with teachers and parents.
“What is the best schedule where we can meet all of the health standards, safety protocols that are in place to return students while still having that option for parents to have their students remain at home,” said Anderson.
Anderson believes with desks six feet apart the normal classroom will only allow sixteen people.
Masks will be required at all grade levels.
“We believe that to ensure safety right now and everything we’re hearing from the CDC is that mask-wearing is really gonna present this from spreading,” said Anderson.
Clovis Unified will have breaks to allow students to go outside and be mask free.
Anderson realizes as the date nears there is excitement and anxiety.
“We have a lot of people who are very excited we’re finally gonna get back to some form of face to face learning,” said Anderson. “At the same time, we have some that aren’t convinced that maybe they’re waiting for the vaccine.”
If the waiver is approved Clovis Unified will welcome elementary students back in forty days.
Right now the district has no idea what percentage of the student body will return.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
