Parents and students chanted “five days now” at a rally outside the San Marcos Unified School district offices on Monday.
Ginny Merrifield, the executive director of the North County Parent Association, said parents are frustrated that nearby districts are reopening, but San Marcos has no plan in sight, even with a court order.
“There are no more restrictions about returning to class, it is safe for teachers and students. It's time to go back,” said Merrifield.
Last month, a judge ruled that 6 North County school districts involved in a lawsuit had to “reopen their schools for in-person instruction to the greatest extent possible at the earliest practicable time.”
San Marcos and Oceanside Unified are the only two named defendants who have not fully resumed in-person learning since the order.
Kimberly Imhoff, a parent in the San Marcos school district feels that if Legoland and places of worship are open, schools should be too, for the sake of the students.
“San Marcos Unified had told us, ‘You can’t compare us to smaller districts like Carlsbad and Encinitas because we are so large’. Well, San Diego Unified is much bigger than we are. So, if they can do it in some form or fashion, then we should be able to also,” said Imhoff.
Ashton Rosenzweig, a 10th grader at San Marcos High School, said he misses the interaction between friends and teachers the most.
“I think going back right now would provide the momentum we need to ensure that we are back next year. Especially since if I don't, I've been told by my parents that we're going to have to move schools,” he said.
In a statement, the Oceanside Unified School District said they are working closely with the San Diego County Health and Human Services to make sure they “can provide the safest and healthiest learning environments possible, prior to moving forward with bringing students back in a larger capacity.”
San Marcos Unified did not respond to our request for a statement.
