Culver students back in classes
Culver School District leaders frustrated with unclear state-level opening guidelines
Culver School District students went back to class full time this week, after administrators, staff and families gave the green light.
On Jan. 1, the Oregon school reopening metrics that determine when schools could open became advisory, not mandatory, explained Culver School District Superintendent Stefanie Garber during the Jan. 14 board meeting.
Since September, most Culver students have attended class two hours each school day in small cohorts and did remote learning the rest of the day. On Jan. 5, Oregon Department of Education started to urge schools not to open against the metrics – essentially, don t do what the governor has recommended, Garber reported. I was in a tangle last week because the governor said on Dec. 23 that she wanted all students in Oregon in school by Feb. 15. Our district began preparing for the governor s direct
School districts in Umatilla County can see a path forward for bringing students back to the classroom, but it will be a slower journey than many parents hoped.
Hermiston School District Superintendent Tricia Mooney said when Gov. Kate Brown announced shortly before Christmas that the stateâs metrics for reopening schools would become guidelines rather than mandates, many parents and even school staff assumed that would mean a quick return to the classroom. But the governorâs announcement didnât give the full picture, she said.
âIf you just read the headline, a lot of parents said, âOK, my kid is going back on Jan. 4,ââ she said.
BANDON â Two topics shook Bandon School Districtâs regular school board meeting on Monday.
Not only will students continue distance learning until new COVID-19 metrics can be evaluated Jan. 4, but the school board unanimously approved Superintendent Doug Ardianaâs resignation.
âI want to make it clear to anyone in the public that this has no reflection on anything that transpired recently,â Ardiana said when he announced his resignation, his last day being the end of the school year in June. âThis was done before any controversy hit our community.â
Watching the COVID-19 metrics
Since last weekâs emergency school board meeting, it was clear that the community was split on wanting students in the classroom versus distance learning.