Marin County parents stopped a school closure, but district s funding challenges remain
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Special education teacher Liz Duffield (center standing) teaches a preschool-kindergarten combination classroom at Lu Sutton Elementary School on Monday, December 7, 2020 in Novato, Calif. The Novato Unified school board recently halted a proposal to close the school in 2022 for economic reasons.Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle
A Novato grade school has been spared the chopping block following a weeks-long campaign by parents who said their district violated its equity pledge by nominating three of its more diverse campuses for closure.
The decision to halt closure plans comes as the Novato Unified School District, like other districts around California, wrestles with difficult choices following years of declining enrollment and revenues.
Until January, MacAllister was learning remotely, like every other SFUSD student. There wasn t a lot of communication about when schools would open back up, explained MacAllister. Barely any time I was happy in that time
Kate Larsen: Did you ever feel like you thought about hurting yourself?
MacAllister: To be honest, sometimes, yeah. But I would never do it. He was deteriorating emotionally and socially and the isolation was contributing to that, said MacAllister s mom, Renee Gonsalves. He used to be a happy child, he used to smile at people. There was no smile left, no laughter in the house.
Uncertainty as to whether SFUSD, OUSD will meet April 1 reopening deadline to take advantage of $6.6 billion bill
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SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) California public schools could tap into $6.6 billion from the Legislature if they return to in-person instruction by April 1, according to a new agreement announced on Monday between Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state s legislative leaders. We want schools to safely reopen. Period, full stop. I ve been saying this for months, said Newsom. We believe the data and the science bear that out. We believe what the CDC has been saying, we believe what Dr. Fauci has been saying, and President Biden.
PALO ALTO, Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom revealed a new plan Wednesday to reopen California schools for in-person instruction as early as February.
While some are praising the news, others say this will make it harder for some districts to open.
The plan includes $2 billion in funding. Young elementary students and students with special needs would come back first.
The plan calls for increased COVID-19 testing and school staff and students would be required to wear masks. It s 15 times more likely for you to get COVID outside of the school setting than in a school setting, says Marin County Superintendent of Schools Mary Jane Burke.
Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a new effort Wednesday to reopen California schools for in-person learning as early as February and March.
She says the numbers show that schools are safer than the community and she s proud that 95 schools in her county are currently open for in person learning. We have the data to show that with those components we do not see in school transmission, Burke said.
According to the county s data, Marin County has seen just six transmission cases and 94 positive coronavirus cases among more than 44,000 kids and adults involved in in-person learning. Burke says the time is right to open more schools.