Cache and Logan districts planning for in-class instruction this fall

NORTH LOGAN – On Monday, the Governor’s Office and State Board of Education said the state is moving forward with plans to resume in-class education as originally planned next month. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sydnee Dickson said all public and charter schools need to submit how they plan to reopen and safeguard student and faculty health by August 1st. Both the Cache County and Logan City school districts are beginning the process of gathering information, polling parents, and presenting plans for schools to reopen in late August.

Both districts are anticipating that they will follow the traditional five-day schedule, Monday through Friday, and maintain the approved school calendar with currently scheduled holidays, breaks and teacher workdays.

Both districts are seeking input from parents and staff as they develop their plans of how to keep students and faculty safe while the coronavirus pandemic persists. Logan is asking parents to fill out an online survey to gauge concerns and interests about fall classes. Cache will also be seeking input from parents and staff. The Logan City School District is planning on meeting with teacher and parent representatives from their School Community Councils to review a draft plan and seek feedback on July 9. Both districts will present their plans for approval before their respective school boards on July 21st.

Both districts are considering some of the following factors:

  • Accommodations need to be made for students and employees who are in “high risk” health categories
  • A formalized set of “Safe and Healthy Schools” guidelines will be designed to provide hygiene and illness protocols for schools, employees and families
  • Have educational plans in place to provide remote or online learning for students or staff who become ill
  • Have contingency plans in place in case remote or online learning is necessary for an entire school or school district
  • Faculty and staff will need to wear face coverings
  • Students may be asked to wear masks in certain circumstances (i.e. working in small groups with the teacher or aide for 10-15 minutes or more)
  • School visitors will be limited
  • Assemblies will be limited to those that may be broadcast to classrooms
  • Regular health screenings will not take place at school, but students who exhibit any symptoms at school will be sent home

The guidelines both districts are following are found on www.schools.utah.gov/coronavirus. Additionally, the plans they come up with and approve must meet the minimum requirements laid out by the Utah State Board of Education. Those requirements can be seen here.

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14 Comments

  • ah July 3, 2020 at 12:23 pm Reply

    Personally I don’t want my kids going back to school. I anticipate an epic failure to keep with the state restrictions. I understand the social aspect and the need for children to have that, but I put more importance in a consistent routine. Having them start in the fall, only to have to pull them out again when this fails, is not a consistent routine. Also, what about kids who may not be high risk themselves, but have a high risk person living in their home? They can’t be bringing potentially harmful germs home to a high risk individual!

    • Cindy July 4, 2020 at 2:24 pm Reply

      Thank you so much for your common sense and looking at this realistically!!!!!

  • Dan July 3, 2020 at 8:07 pm Reply

    It’s hard to believe the schools will be able to avoid a rapid shut down.

    The only difference between now and spring when things shut down before- is that COVID is very active in Cache Valley now- and we think opening schools is a good idea?

    • Teacher July 4, 2020 at 2:32 pm Reply

      I completely agree. As a teacher I will have 200 students coming and going from my classroom. Those 200 students come from 200 different families. Opening the schools will increase the spread of this illness to our community like crazy!

      • Prince Albert July 5, 2020 at 6:06 pm Reply

        It appears that you are admitting that you are non-essential. Please stay home in your locked basement. Never come outside again without a mask. It’s a shame that 200 students are “learning” daily for someone who is scared of their shadow.

        • Bo July 16, 2020 at 8:57 am Reply

          No, your highness, you stay home. You clearly have no concern for anyone but yourself.

  • Joseph Smith July 4, 2020 at 4:04 pm Reply

    It’s concerning that the people who help educate our children are void of critical thinking skills and unable to make decisions based on academic data. Planning to make classes full time over zoom and allocation of funds that will no doubt be spent on plexiglass and signage for schools instead on laptops and internet access for all would have been the direction they should have gone.

  • Jack Ath July 4, 2020 at 10:44 pm Reply

    There are zero cases of child to adult infection with this virus. Let the kids go to school, if you feel like you child is at risk, have options to do online at home. If a teacher feels at risk, they can work from home also.

    • ah July 5, 2020 at 5:01 pm Reply

      I would like to see a link to where you got that information, because it simply isn’t true. It’s not as cut and dry as you make it. I realize I have choices as far as me and my family, but I wasn’t only thinking about myself. I was thinking about the district as a whole, and the repercussions that will come from starting and then shutting down again. I wasn’t only think of the possibility of my child, or other children getting sick, but of the big picture of their mental health. Yes, kids are resilient, but having this topsey turvey school experience will wear on them eventually.

  • T mom July 5, 2020 at 4:51 pm Reply

    I am very concerned about sending my kids back, when the coronavirus virus has been so active in the Cache Valley. I think the numbers will skyrocket. I have a child with asthma, and I don’t want her to get it. Teachers will be exposed and the. what happens when all of the teachers are sick.

  • Blayne July 6, 2020 at 10:37 am Reply

    Were all you concerned parents expressing these same concerns last year, when the flu was about to hit? Nope. Send them to school already! Stop pandering to the less than 1 percent of covid fatalities.

    • ah July 6, 2020 at 10:54 am Reply

      If my children were exposed and brought home the virus, They would be putting their sister, who has multiple physical disabilities and a non-existent immune system, at risk for hospitalization and even death! Maybe your family doesn’t have any extra risk, but mine does and that’s who I care about!

    • Bo July 16, 2020 at 9:00 am Reply

      This isn’t the flu, stop being ignorant.

  • Educator July 16, 2020 at 7:04 am Reply

    1% fatalities? Why not look at the 8% to 10% tested have a positive results. Just because someone doesn’t die from the virus doesn’t mean people will go through terrible suffering. Kids can and do get the disease. Half of people who have the virus show no symptoms but can still pass the virus to other people. Do your research!

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