Boise Schools inching toward in-person learning. But a start date was changed again.
Some Boise School District students could begin returning to in-person classes in September — but only after health officials move the school district into a lower coronavirus risk category.
In a Tuesday night meeting, the Boise School Board of Trustees voted to allow district officials to begin an incremental, phased return to in-person learning once Central District Health moves the district into Category 2 (yellow) of Idaho’s reopening guidance for schools. Boise School District is currently in Category 3 (red), meaning there is evidence of substantial community transmission of COVID-19 and school buildings should remain closed.
Boise students began the school year learning online on Aug. 17. The district had originally hoped to start returning to in-person classes on Sept. 8. But Central District Health officials aren’t expected to make a category change until next week at the earliest. Deputy Superintendent Lisa Roberts said district staff would need at least two weeks to make the transition, pushing the start of in-person learning to at least Sept. 14.
Under the proposed phased reopening plan, small groups of younger students — kindergarten through second grade, in particular — would be among the first to return. The return would also be staggered, another shift from the district’s original plan to start classes five days a week. A move to Category 2 would allow fall sports teams to begin full practices — teams are currently limited to small-group workouts — and increase in-person assistance for English language learners and students with special needs.
District officials released few details about how the phased reopening would work, saying detailed plans would be shared after Central District Health moves the district into Category 2.
Central District Health program manager Gina Pannell told the board that diminishing coronavirus case counts in Ada County made her “optimistic” Boise schools could be moved to a lower risk category within the next two weeks. But she cautioned trustees to move slowly, and understand new COVID-19 infections among students and staff would be almost inevitable once they reopened.
“I don’t want to call you guys a fishing net, but you are going to capture people coming in with COVID into your schools, and that is going to be your role,” Pannell said. “It doesn’t really matter when you open.”
Just before the meeting, the Idaho Statesman reported at least five new COVID-19 cases in Boise schools since Thursday, even though all classes are still online. Boise School District memos to staff and parents obtained via a public records request show confirmed positive cases at Borah High School, West Junior High and Adams, Roosevelt and Hillcrest elementary schools.
There have been 28 confirmed coronavirus cases and two presumed positive cases linked to the Boise School District since the summer, officials said.
Sending some students back to in-person classes wouldn’t affect the thousands of students who signed up for Boise Online School. Those students will remain in online classes for the semester.
Superintendent Coby Dennis said the district has heard the concerns of families who are struggling with online learning and want their kids back in school. Students need to return to school in-person, Dennis said, but a slow, staggered reopening could help Boise School District avoid the fate of other schools around the country that had to close immediately after reopening fully.
“We want to be responsible and methodical in our reopening plans and get our kids back to school,” Dennis said. “And hopefully be able to stay there as the year progresses.”
This story was originally published August 25, 2020 at 9:47 PM.
