Douglas County school shift reopening plans after COVID-19 spike

Douglas County school shift reopening plans after COVID-19 spike

A coronavirus spike in douglas county is forcing school districts to switch back to distance learning& just days before many schools were supposed to go back in person.

Kezi 9 news reporter evita garza explains how school officials are staying positive while they navigate through this sudden change in plans.

Getting students back in the classroom this year?while keeping them safe?was the number one goal for school officials here in the yoncalla school district.

And they almost accomplished that goal& untill everything changed.

Brian berry phoner:?it frustrating.

However, that being said i know that it for safety reasons?

Like many douglas county school districts& yoncalla was suppose to start in person learning on monday.

They got the green light because douglas county was meeting the metrics set by the state.

Now, yoncalla superintendent brian berry says they were notified earlier this week that the county no longer met the metrics& and they have to continue distance learning.

Wee making distance learning work.

However, right now it not what we wanna do?

In order for kids to go back to school& the county must have less than 10 cases per 100 thousand people a week.

And both the state and county rate positivity must be under 5 percent.

As of last week, public health officer bob dannenhoffer says the county is now sitting at more than 20 cases a week.

1:08 bob dannenhoffer, douglas county public health officer:?kids going to school is critically important, but the only way to do that is if there a low amount of disease in the community?

01:15 evita:?even though the students won be walking through these doors on monday, berry is asking all of his students to stay positive as they figure out their next steps??you know, it not a political thing.

It about safety.

Its about making sure our students are safe?

Berry says kindergarten through 3rd grade will return to in person next week because they have different metrics.

In yoncalla, evita garza