How Coachella Valley schools are figuring out when in-person instruction will happen

Most schools throughout the Coachella Valley are approaching a year holding virtual instruction as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The state of California has returned to its tier system framework, and Riverside County continues to remain in the most restrictive purple tier. Under the state's guidance that means grades K-12 "may not reopen for in-person instruction in counties with adjusted case rates above 25 cases per 100,000 population per day." As of Wednesday Riverside County reported a case rate of 44.9 cases per 100,000.

On Wednesday, a total of 16 Riverside County teacher's association presidents came together write a letter to the Riverside County Office of Education, call on safety protocols to be in place in order to eventually return to in-person instruction.

"How many bodies can you fit in a classroom and do it safely? And how do you ensure that community or any kind of spread in the school system is mitigated to the lowest possible occurrences," said National Education Association- Jurupa President, Wendy Eccles.

Those are just some of the questions local teachers associations, including all three in the Coachella Valley, are wanting answered before any potential plans to return to in-person instruction.

"We want to get back to in-person instruction but we only want to do it when it is safe," said Eccles.

A portion of the letter read:

It is clear that local political pressure has clouded the ability to act singularly in the interest of community health. Regardless, it is our obligation and intention to follow scientific principles and guidelines to prevent further exposure and community spread. Re-opening schools will require robust safety measures are in place, including reducing the size of student groups (pods), mask mandates, PPE supplies, testing, tracing, and quarantining protocols. Upon our return, it will be critical to provide extensive wraparound services to promote long-term prevention strategies and community health.

"What it’s going to take to safely reopen schools is going to cost a lot of money and making sure we have the right PPE and making sure that we have the social distancing," said Eccles.

On Monday Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his office was working with the legislature to compose a plan that would potentially allow some kids to return to the classroom. He mentioned it could be available sometime this week.

"A 6.6 billion dollar allocation of resources to address learning loss, incentivize safely reopening our schools," said Newsom.

"It’s good for them to be on the computer and learning how it works but we also miss the fact that they need to interact in an actual school in the public area," said April Sanchez, a parent of 3 children in the Desert Sands Unified School District.

Sanchez has helped her kids along the way as they've learned to navigate the new online platform for school.

"Right now I think that the decision of what we have for distance learning is good. I think it’s too soon for in person, but once we get to that point I’m hoping that there’s going to be some major precautions as far as allowing to educate our children to wash your hands more, sanitize more," said Sanchez.

Not all parents, however, have expressed the same sentiment. Back in October a group of parents rallied in Palm Desert to get their kids back in the classroom.

"We’re not trying to be the enemy here, we are in fact trying to be the great friend to try to get everybody back," said Eccles.

Meanwhile, all 3 Coachella Valley school districts have said they are working toward being ready for in person instruction.