The William S. Hart Union High School District announced Wednesday that, in addition to Cherise Moore being named the new governing board president, the district plans to likely not return to in-person class sessions at the beginning of next semester.
After having to delay the return of students to campus for this semester, the Hart District has said that a return to campus for the start of the January semester appears unlikely, given the current conditions of the pandemic around the community and nation.
“The state’s blueprint requires at least four consecutive weeks in a less restrictive tier; four weeks from Dec. 14, which was this last Monday, takes us to Jan. 11,” said Superintendent Mike Kuhlman. “And since we remain in the most restrictive purple tier on California’s blueprint today, and it’s frankly unlikely that we will be removing ourselves from that anytime soon, we will not be allowed to reopen on Jan. 11.”
Hart High School is closed for the next 14 days due to a COVID-19 outbreak on the campus, district officials informed parents Wednesday.
In the email distributed to the Hart High community, Superintendent Mike Kuhlman states that the district was notified by the Los Angeles County Public Health Department that the school had three “linked cases of COVID-19 on campus” and that the campus would have to be closed through at least Dec. 30.
“This is a temporary closure of the physical campus not an interruption to the instructional program,” Kuhlman said. “Teachers and instructional support staff will continue classes online through the end of the semester this Friday.”
William S. Hart Union High School District officials have informed parents that due to logistical concerns heading into finals week, the cohort groups of students who have been receiving in-person instruction on district sites this past semester will complete their final few days of the semester from home.
The groups of students that had returned were given special permission from the county earlier this fall, and generally have special needs in terms of their education. Blended learning with general education students has not yet been given the go-ahead to return to campus.
Superintendent Mike Kuhlman on Tuesday said the district was monitoring the rise of COVID-19 transmission in the community and running into issues with some of those on campus having to either quarantine due to possible exposure, experiencing symptoms, and/or testing positive.