Reopening Elementary Schools Carries Less COVID-19 Risk Than High Schools — But That Doesn't Guarantee Safety

Speaker 1: 00:00 The problem, vexing parents, students and teachers across America has been solved by an East County school, at least for now how to reopen in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic here to discuss the first day at Christian unified East elementary school, a private school in El Cahone is Kristen Dakota education reporter for the San Diego union Tribune. Kristen, welcome to midday edition. Speaker 2: 00:22 Hi, thank you for having me Speaker 1: 00:24 With a Y Christian unified was able to reopen in person when other schools in the County can't just yet. Speaker 2: 00:31 Yeah, so they were one of the first schools to apply for a reopening waiver, which is the only way that yeah, in any schools in the County can be open right now. And they got it approved and they opened literally the first day that they could under the waiver process, which was yesterday, Monday. So they're one of the first schools I know of in the County to open other schools that got waivers approved are waiting a bit longer, like days or weeks longer, but they opened right on the first day. Speaker 1: 00:59 Now set the scene for us. What did the first day look like at Christian unified on Monday? I mean, it wasn't exactly like a normal first day of school. Speaker 2: 01:07 So I think some of the things that stood out to me as being different were all of the teachers and staff, most of them were wearing face shield. So it wasn't, um, not all staff were wearing masks per say, but they were wearing face shields. Um, and so they were, you know, just greeting students from behind those. And then before you got to campus student, all students went through temperature checks and then when it comes to mass for students, not all the students were wearing masks because, uh, the state is allowing students in grades two and younger to be, to not wear a mask. So actually a lot of young kids were not wearing masks. So those, a lot of the younger kids looked, the classes looked like a normal class almost. And then another big thing that stood out was once you go into the classrooms, you see all these plexiglass barriers that are basically separating every desk from each other. Speaker 2: 02:05 Um, the dusty are still clustered into groups of two or four, uh, desks, but if you're a student, you're basically looking out why you're at your desk from behind a window and you can't like reach out and touch your, uh, next door classmate. But, um, yeah, so those were the biggest things I saw. And then they had these sanitizing spraying machines and they were spraying the lunch tables and the swings and the toys or play equipment. So in those ways I think those are a lot of the things that were different. And then the students spent more time hand watching and, you know, making sure to get a pump of hand sanitizer before they walk in the door. But a lot of times it also kind of looks like a normal school day because, um, during recess and lunch, when they are outside the students that were allowed to take off their masks. So they were, you know, just running and playing like almost like pretty much normal. And of course when they were eating, they weren't wearing masks either. So yeah, it was kind of a, it was kind of a mix. Um, there, as some points in the day, it did look like a normal day, but others, it looked like a pandemic day, Speaker 1: 03:13 Right? The lunchtime, obviously you have to have a mask off or are they pretty concerned about the lunchtime being a hazard time? Speaker 2: 03:20 I didn't get that sense from this school, I guess, because I think, um, I asked the school leader are one of the school leaders about what they thought about distancing and, you know, did they think it was difficult to enforce six foot distancing the whole time? And throughout the day, I didn't see that much six foot distancing, but they basically said, you know, we don't think it's, uh, we think it would take time away from education to constantly enforce six part distancing. And they thought that time was better saved for, um, teaching students. So I think they were, they were relying on the plexiglass barriers to basically substitute for the distancing and, um, the face shields. Speaker 1: 04:04 Uh, I wanted to ask about testing. What about testing? How is that protocol going to work? Speaker 2: 04:08 Yeah, so the school tested all of their staff the week before they opened. And they told me that, um, they got their results the same day, but yeah. So, and then after that, they are going to test their staff every two months for COVID. Um, and I've seen some other schools, um, include covered testing and they're reopening plans, but not all of them. And then the timeframe that they would test them also varies. So I've seen two weeks or I've seen two months. So I think it depends, but yeah, they're one of the, uh, Christian unified was one of the schools that is testing, having all their staff tested before they go back to school. Speaker 1: 04:50 I have to wonder about the threshold going forward. If they have a certain number of positive tests, will they have to do the dreaded thing and shut down again? Speaker 2: 04:59 Um, well that's for any school, if they, um, I believe if it's 5% or more of their, the people in the school, uh, test positive, then the whole school have to shut down. And then I think the exact details of, you know, if they get to a point earlier, uh, earlier than that, where they detect any COVID and the school, then the protocols might slightly vary. But I think a lot of schools are just deciding, you know, if we have one case in a classroom, then the whole classroom, uh, or the whole cohort, including the teacher or the staff would have to stay home for two weeks. Uh, and I'm kind of quarantined. So yeah, that's what a lot of schools are planning to do. Speaker 1: 05:40 And, uh, you talked to some, uh, teachers and parents and students and all basically, what did they have to say? Speaker 2: 05:46 Yeah. So all the students and parents that I talked to were extremely happy to be back like that. That's all, um, they were very, very happy to not be stuck at home. And the parents that I talked to you were worried about the social aspect for their kids. And they were worried about them being isolated so long. And the kids were just telling me, you know, why I'm not, I was bored at home. You know, I, I can only play video games or it was just very boring for them. And they didn't like learning online. They thought it was hard to concentrate and they miss being able to be right there with their teachers. So their teacher could help them. A lot of the kids said they missed their friends. So all the kids that I talked to were really happy to be back. Some of the kids thought the masks were annoying and the rules, uh, the extra rules were a little strange, but yeah, everyone was pretty happy to be back. Speaker 1: 06:40 And this is a private Christian school. What about other schools that we may see opening here and there's reports on those coming up? Yes. Speaker 2: 06:48 So the, the other schools that, uh, have been applying for and receiving waivers, most of them are private schools. And like how, and I actually just said yesterday that they're going to stop, um, accepting waiver applications because all schools may be able to open as soon as next week. Um, so you won't need a waiver to open as soon as next week, if we continue to stay off the watch list. So, so yeah, that might happen sooner than I think a lot of people are expecting. Speaker 1: 07:17 I've been speaking with Kristin Takita education reporter at the San Diego union Tribune. Thanks, Kristen. Yeah, you're welcome.