County releases guidance on reopening waivers for TK-6 schools

San Diego County’s public health officer has announced guidance for local school districts that may opt to participate in the waiver process that could allow some TK-6 schools to reopen in counties on the statewide coronavirus monitoring list

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on July 17 that schools in counties that have been on the state’s coronavirus monitoring list may operate through distance learning only until the county has been off the state’s list for at least 14 days.

In counties on the list, California Department of Public Health guidance does allow a district superintendent, a private school principal or head of school, or an executive director of a charter school to apply for a waiver from the local health officer to open for in-person instruction – although the waiver is only applicable for grades TK-6, “even if the grade configuration at the school includes additional grades,” San Diego County Public Health Officer Wilma Wooten said in a letter to local school administrators Aug. 7.

Wooten said school districts, private and charter schools wishing to apply for the waiver must submit evidence of consultation with labor, parent and community organizations and evidence of publication of the schools’ reopening plans online.

Reopening plans must address the components in the California Department of Public Health’s Guidance for Schools and School-Based Programs.

“If no labor organization represents the staff for a school site, then consultation with that staff is sufficient,” Wooten said.

Wooten said she must then review the application and reopening plans along with local community epidemiological data, in consultation with the state department of public health, before making a determination on whether to grant or deny the waiver.

Applications and all supporting documents should be submitted to the local health officer at https://tinyurl.com/COSD-School-Waiver at least 14 days prior to the desired reopening date, according to Wooten.

Will Fritz can be reached by email at [email protected].