Most KCSD students will return to full time in classroom instruction in April

/
Stock photo

Stock photo

Klamath County School Dist.jpg

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - “Next week, for the first time in more than a year, most Klamath County School District students will begin returning to our classrooms full-time, five days a week,” said a newsletter sent to KCSD parents Wednesday evening.

The emailed newsletter sent to parents, by the Klamath County School District announced a plan to return most of the district’s students to full-time in classroom instruction by April 5. Additional students will return on April 12.

“Because of our diverse schools and scheduling needs, details are not the same districtwide. Please bear with us and read carefully,” added the newsletter.

On Monday, April 5, students at the following schools will start full-time five-day-a-week schedules. All school start and end times will remain the same as they are now.

  • Bonanza Elementary

  • Chiloquin Elementary

  • Chiloquin Junior/Senior High

  • Ferguson Elementary

  • Gearhart Elementary

  • Henley Elementary

  • Keno Elementary

  • Klamath County Transition Program

  • Lost River Junior/Senior High

  • Malin Elementary

  • Merrill Elementary

  • Peterson Elementary

  • Shasta Elementary (including Special Programs)

  • Stearns Elementary (including Special Programs)

On Monday, April 12 the Students at the following schools will start full-time, five-day-a-week schedules. All school start and end times remain the same as they are now.

  • Bonanza Junior/Senior High

  • Brixner Junior/Senior High (including Special Programs)

  • Gilchrist Elementary

  • Gilchrist Junior/Senior High

  • Henley Middle

  • Henley High

This newly updated schedule comes with a few exceptions including students at Mazama High School and Falcon Heights.

Mazama High School
All students will continue on their current hybrid schedules, including students in Special Programs. Starting the week of April 12, all 9th- and 10th-graders will add a full-day of in-person instruction on Fridays; 11th and 12th graders will continue with asynchronous learning on Fridays.

The reason behind this exemption is to maximize safety and educational options for students, Mazama created two master schedules that cannot be changed mid-semester without impacting credits and course completion. Keeping the current hybrid schedule and adding a day for freshmen and sophomores has been determined the best move for students academically. Mazama will post more detailed information on its website and Facebook page tomorrow (April 1).

Falcon Heights Academy
Students will remain on their current AM/PM schedules but will begin attending five days a week starting the week of Monday, April 12.

The district notes that online and homeschool options will remain available for families who wish to not send their children back to in-person learning.

Why full-time, why now?

The district is able to return to full-time learning because the Oregon Department of Education last week changed its space-per-student in the classroom requirements from 6 feet to 3 feet, matching new CDC guidance for schools. This allows the district to bring more students into classrooms. However, the new guidance still requires schools to follow the 6-foot spacing rule while students are eating, doing physical activities, and during band and choir classes.

“We are not making this move lightly,” said the newsletter. “CDC data indicates that the virus has not been spreading in schools even with a 3-foot space-per-student distance in classrooms. Many of our students are struggling with distance learning, and earlier this year, we told parents we would work to bring as many students as possible, as soon as possible, into our classrooms while following all state and public health requirements.”

The newsletter added, “many of our schools have already been open four days a week, and Klamath County Public Health has not linked any district cases to a school exposure. Teaming with public health to quickly quarantine cohorts has been working. To continue this trend, we need your commitment.”

The news letter concluded with, “COVID-19 is still here, and it is paramount everyone is diligent with safety protocols – wearing masks, washing hands, and staying home when ill -- so we keep our community healthy. To remain open full-time, we are counting on families to keep their children home when they are sick or when they have been directly exposed to the virus.”

Read the newsletter from KCSD in its entirety at https://www.smore.com/yxgk7

Editors Note: As of press time, no word from Klamath Falls City Schools on if they will do the same as KCSD.