OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) — The Oceanside Unified School District voted Thursday to return students to an all-online learning format to prevent any coronavirus outbreaks, as cases surge throughout the state.
Starting Monday, all elementary schools in the district will move to distance learning.
"With the recent rapid rise of COVID-19 cases, and our commitment to keep staff at home who are feeling sick, we’ve experienced a direct impact on staffing," an email from the district read late Thursday. "As a result of compounding staff shortages, we are unable to provide the amount of substitutes needed to effectively run our schools and classrooms. Additionally, we are not permitted under public health guidance to reopen our secondary campuses while we are in the most restrictive purple tier.
The district said in addition to the move for elementary schools, it will delay the secondary return to in-person classes until San Diego County returns to the "red tier" of California's reopening guidelines.
Secondary learning centers will continue to support students and the district's elementary enrichment program will serve students pending staffing. The district's free curbside meals program will also still be offered to all district students during virtual learning.
The district's winter break will go on as planned from Dec. 21, through Jan. 8, 2021.
No changes were announced regarding the scheduled return to in-person class for middle and high school students in January.
