PSUSD’s return to classrooms pushed back to February
Palm Springs Unified School District students won't be back in classrooms until at least February, Superintendent Dr. Sandra Lyon confirmed on Wednesday.
The district was originally planning for in-person classes to return after the winter break in mid-January under the hybrid model. The model set student capacity to 50 percent with in-person classes held two days a week and distance learning the remaining three days.
The four-month plan appeared to be moving along as scheduled in early November, but the recent surge in cases has altered those plans.
On Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom said if current trends continues, 78% of hospital beds across the state will be filled by Christmas Eve, and all currently available intensive care unit beds will be occupied by mid-December.
California’s #COVID19 hospitalizations have increased by 89% in the last two weeks.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) November 30, 2020
If these trends continue, our current hospitalizations could increase by 2-3 times within ONE MONTH.
More Details: Gov. Newsom warns of stay-at-home order if surge continues at current rate
Lyon said that February would be the earliest that the district would be able to implement its hybrid learning model due to the COVID surge, but even that date could be up in the air if the county remains in the purple tier. Schools remain virtual if a county is still in the purple tier.
"Please know that getting our students and staff back in their classrooms as soon as possible is something we all want and are eager to have happen," Lyon wrote. "At the same time, the health and safety of our students and staff has been and always will be our number one priority and remains in the forefront of every decision that is made, both by staff and by our Board of Education."
PSUSD's plans to bring in a small hub of students is separate from the hybrid learns model delay. Joan Boiko, spokesperson for PSUSD, said the district has had small learning hubs going on at most of sites. This started toward the end of last month and continues daily.
A spokesperson for the Desert Sands Unified School District confirmed that January 19 remains the target date for the hybrid model. The next Board of Education meeting is set for Dec. 15.
Coachella Valley Superintendent Dr. Maria Gandera said the district still isn't sure as to when their hybrid model will be implemented but did add that it appears that they will need to delay the timeline.
Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.
