SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- Students and teachers from two classes at Sage Canyon School in Carmel Valley will have to return to online distance learning for two weeks after two people tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement to ABC 10News, Jenni Huh, the Del Mar Union School District Director of Student Services, said:
“The District has confirmed two positive cases of COVID-19 at Sage Canyon School. All students and staff who were directly exposed have been contacted and will be quarantining for 14 days. The District has been in consultation with the San Diego County Department of Public Health.”
Parent Amy Berkley said she was notified of the two positive cases on Sunday. She has two sons who attend the school and said her third-grader was in the same class as one of the people who tested positive.
“They had two students in the school test positive, one was in first grade and the other in third grade,” Berkley said. “We got the notification on Sunday, and by Monday morning, all class materials were available for pickup, really easy and convenient.”
While the positive cases are alarming for some parents, Berkley, who is also the PTA president, said she was pleased with how the situation was handled. Her son didn’t miss a school day as the classrooms impacted transitioned back to distance learning Monday.
“We picked up a Chromebook, learning packet, homework worksheet, whiteboard all the material they’ll need; it was very well thought out.”
According to the Del Mar Union School District’s safe reopening plan, if a student or teacher tests positive for COVID-19, the whole class will quarantine for 14 days, and learning will be offered remotely. Substitute teachers will also be trained to give online lessons if they do need to step in.
The California Department of Public Health released guidelines and recommendations for schools reopening for in-person learning.
According to the department, two-week closures will be put in place if at least 5 percent of the total number of teachers, students, or staff test positive in a classroom or school, or 25 percent of a district’s population tests positive.