Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • beats
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    • California Dream
    • Videos
    • Photos
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Roots
    • Eclectic
    • Videos
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight
    • California State of Mind
    • The View From Here
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • Insight Music
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • CapRadio Travels
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support / Underwriting
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Volunteering
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Sacramento City Unified’s Youngest Students Could Return To School In April

  •  Kris Hooks 
Monday, February 22, 2021 | Sacramento, CA
Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

William Land Elementary School in Midtown, Friday, Sept 11, 2020.

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

If all goes according to the Sacramento City Unified School District’s plan, some of the area’s youngest students could be back in classrooms in early April. The district put forth its plan to reopen campuses for in-person learning through a phased-in approach. 

Students in grades K-3 would return April 8 and those in grades 4-6 would return on April 15. Meanwhile, middle and high school students would return May 6, but only if Sacramento County is in the state’s less-restrictive red tier — which indicates substantial community spread, but allows some businesses to reopen at lower capacity.

The county is still in the most restrictive purple tier.

Under the plan, students would return to school in groups, and campuses would have no more than 50% of students at a time. Students would attend in-person class two days a week, and do virtual learning for the other three days.

Parents could opt out of having their kids return to classrooms and continue with virtual learning for the rest of the school year.

Students on campus would be physically distant, and plexiglass barriers would be installed in the library and school cafeterias. The district has also already begun installing new ventilation systems to prepare for reopening.

David Fisher, president of the Sacramento City Teachers Association, the local union that represents about 2,500 educators, said the district’s plan looks promising. But the union has yet to discuss the details with the district, including those involving ventilation systems.

“Essentially there’s some common points, but there’s also some sticking points,” Fisher said. “And the main one I think of is on the issue of ventilation — about making sure that the students are safe based on scientifically-sound ventilation systems.”

The district said that it is installing vents that “constantly cycle outside air through indoor spaces” and will continuously run the heating and air conditioning “so that no air is stagnant in the classroom.” 

“The air is constantly moving, recycling, and refiltering to be the best it can be indoors. We’re also installing the highest rated air filters possible,” the district said on its website.

For now, Fisher is taking solace in the fact that educators are beginning to be vaccinated. More than 1,000 teachers, staff and adiminstors in Sacramento were vaccinated for COVID-19 at the county’s first clinic for inoculating educators last week. Fisher said the county is set to vaccinate more educators every week.

If the county can continue to vaccinate roughly 1,000 educators at their clinics every Friday, Fisher said that could mean teachers and staff who have to work on-site could receive both doses of the vaccine before students return. 

“That assumes everything keeps going the way it’s going and that the right staff is getting vaccinated, meaning the ones who are working directly with the students,” he said.

With plans at the state and local levels to bring younger students back first as well as their teachers, Fisher said “we gotta make sure those educators are vaccinated.” Governor Gavin Newsom last week announced the state would set aside 10% of its vaccine allotment weekly for educators starting March 1.

Fisher said the union and the district are expected to meet next week to negotiate.

The school year ends June 17.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

Kris Hooks

News Editor

As CapRadio’s news editor, it’s my job to help our reporters develop stories with the context and understanding of Sacramento´s history and the many experiences of the people who live here.  Read Full Bio 

 @Captain_Hooks Email Kris Hooks

Coronavirus Newsletter

Get answers to your questions, the latest updates and easy access to the resources you need, delivered to your inbox.

 

Want to know what to expect? Here's a recent newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

We'll send you weekly emails so you can stay informed about the coronavirus in California.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Mario Tama / Getty Images

California Will Begin Setting Aside 10% Of COVID-19 Vaccine Doses For Teachers

February 20, 2021

Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

Sacramento Could Be One Of First Cities To Reform Single-Family Home Zoning. Here’s How It Would Work.

February 25, 2021

John Locher / AP Photo

Nevada Seeks To Address ‘Equity Crisis’ In COVID-19 Vaccine Access

February 23, 2021

Most Viewed

California Coronavirus Updates: Gov. Gavin Newsom Gets Flack From Republican Governor Candidate Kevin Faulconer Over School Reopenings

California Coronavirus Updates: Gov. Newsom Says Deal Is Being Negotiated To Reopen Schools Shortly

Newsom Signs Economic Relief Package, Sending $600 Stimulus Payments To Low-Income Californians

When Can I Get A COVID-19 Vaccine? How Will I Find Out? Answers To Your California Vaccine Questions.

Tim O'Brien On Late-In-Life Fatherhood And The Things He Carried From Vietnam

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California Coronavirus Updates: Gov. Gavin Newsom Gets Flack From Republican Governor Candidate Kevin Faulconer Over School Reopenings

California Coronavirus Updates: Gov. Newsom Says Deal Is Being Negotiated To Reopen Schools Shortly

Newsom Signs Economic Relief Package, Sending $600 Stimulus Payments To Low-Income Californians

When Can I Get A COVID-19 Vaccine? How Will I Find Out? Answers To Your California Vaccine Questions.

Tim O'Brien On Late-In-Life Fatherhood And The Things He Carried From Vietnam

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2021, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.