A student and parent from Feaster Charter School in Chula Vista are being monitored after the parent came into contact with someone with the coronavirus, according to the Chula Vista Elementary School District.
A district spokesman said the parent and child are not likely to have contracted the virus and that the parent informed the district about her decision to self-quarantine after coming in contact with an Orange County resident likely to have the virus.
“Her child is also being kept home, so neither the parent nor the student have had contact with the school since this was brought to their attention,” said Anthony Millican, spokesman for the Chula Vista Elementary School District.
The district sent letters home on Thursday informing parents about the situation. According to Millican, Friday’s attendance at Feaster Charter School was about 93%.
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But in the event that the virus arrives in local schools, Chula Vista Elementary School District will take direction from the County Health and Human Services Agency, where experts say it’s just a matter of time.
“We are being proactive, and seeking to do all we can to protect, to promote and to be prepared accordingly,” said Nicholas Yphantides, San Diego County’s chief medical officer, at a Thursday press conference.
The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency did not respond to questions about what type of scenario would be necessary to close a school.
If schools at Chula Vista Elementary School Districts close, Millican said one plan being considered is “distance learning,” or online learning from home. But this arrangement can raise additional challenges.
“For example, what if you have communities or schools with high populations of students who don’t have devices at home? How do you educate them?” said Millican. “Do you roll out mobile wifi centers to populate or position themselves in these communities? And then how do you make it work?”
In the meantime, Millican said parents can feel secure about sending their kids to school as long as the school remains open.
“We are mindful of the importance of proper hygiene, proper safety measures in terms of health and wellness,” he said. “We’re balancing prevention strategies with health awareness, trying to minimize panic.”
