ESCONDIDO — The Escondido Union High School District (EUHSD) held a board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 12, and announced that they will postpone in-person classes until April 16 due to a countywide surge in COVID-19 cases.
The district announced in December that it would temporarily suspend a blended learning option that includes in-person classes until later in the spring semester, but families were not given a specific time frame.
The board said they will evaluate conditions at their March 9 meeting and, in the meantime, will offer two online learning options for the upcoming semester through the first grading period.
All students at EUHSD are currently taking classes virtually, though the district began allowing small groups, including special education students and English learners, to return to campus in September.
These learning pods on campus will continue to be available for students with disabilities, ELD students, and students needing extra support.
All meal services will also continue as “grab and go” curbside pickup as usual, on Mondays and Thursdays, the district confirmed.
“Our priorities continue to be safety and flexibility for our students, families, and staff members. To make these decisions, staff and the Board of Trustees review the local COVID-19 metrics as well as the county color tier (currently purple),” Superintendent Dr. Anne Staffieri said. “The board approved a reopening plan in consultation with public health metrics. The board makes a determination at our identified checkpoint to inform the learning model for the following grading period.”
The district, which serves more than 7,000 students, also recently launched a COVID-19 dashboard to keep students, families and the community up to date.
According to the dashboard, the district has had 22 positive cases in January so far.
EUHSD only had two positive cases in September and October, but that number dramatically increased to 24 cases in November and 41 cases in December, prompting the suspension of in-person learning.
EUHSD joins several other North County school districts that have also decided to postpone in-person instruction amid a countywide surge in COVID-19 cases. These include Escondido Union School District, San Marcos Unified and San Dieguito Union High School District.
The board’s next meeting is Feb. 9.
