Governor allows localized decisions regarding in-person metrics
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Monday, January 4th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
BAKER CITY – (Release from the Baker School District) Oregon Governor Kate Brown recently signaled an important shift in policy impacting the ability of school districts across Oregon to bring students back to in-person learning in 2021.
Beginning January 1, the health metrics outlined in RSSL will become “advisory” instead of mandatory. In addition, Brown tasked Oregon Department of Education officials with making additional updates to the health protocol outlined in Ready Schools, Safe Learners (RSSL) by January 19, 2021.
The changes allow school districts, in collaboration with their local public health authorities, to decide when and how many students can safely return to in-person instruction, rather than waiting for permission from the state.
“In our situation, this shift will allow us to continue our current in-person instruction for elementary students as well as reconsider how many secondary students we can safely accommodate on campus,” said Baker 5J Superintendent Mark Witty.
“We are required to maintain all of the health protocols which we are currently implementing as well as cohort size restrictions as outlined in RSSL,” he said. “At the same time, it is imperative that we continue working side by side with county health officials to limit the possibility of COVID-19 exposure for staff and students on campus.”
Governor Brown’s letter also calls for prioritization of COVID-19 vaccination for educators and school staff as well as increased testing availability for staff and students. A mobile testing site has been established for students and staff on the Baker High School campus. There is no firm schedule at this time for when vaccinations will be made available to staff.
“These changes could allow us to transition to an A-B cohort for secondary students so that they can participate in-person every other day, instead of one day a week,” said Witty. “I will be working closely with the Baker County Health Department to determine if they believe they have the capacity to effectively manage the contact tracing necessary to accommodate these larger cohort sizes.”
Witty does not anticipate changing the instructional model prior to January 25, which is the beginning of the second semester. Moving to an A-B cohort may impact transportation schedules as well as class schedules. The waiting period will provide time to effectively plan for a transition as well as get past a potential boost in cases due to holiday gatherings.
The District will communicate with parents prior to making any changes to student schedules.“I’m appreciative of the governor’s change in practice,” said Witty. “Allowing some of these decisions to be made at the local level shows a measure of trust for those of us who have been practicing in-person school in a responsible, safe manner.”
