Area schools rethink August reopening plans

declining enrollment brings challenges to Cupertino schools

Less than two weeks after Santa Clara County officials released guidelines for school reopenings, districts are rethinking their approaches.

On Friday, Santa Clara Unified School District announced it would not have in-person instruction to star the year. That came following recent news of an in-person meeting the district hosted that led to 40 administrators needing to quarantine for potential COVID-19 exposure.

The district acknowledged that while families were hoping for a more normal return to the year, it was not possible.

“Due to the recent increases in COVID-19 cases in Santa Clara County, and out of concern for the health, safety, and wellbeing of our students, staff, and community, all students will start the school year in distance learning,” the district said in a statement.

Santa Clara also announced an online survey and two community town halls for families to hear about the reopening plans.

To participate in the survey, which closes on July 15, click here.

The town halls are set for Tuesday, July 14, from 5 to 6 p.m. in English and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Spanish. To see details on participating or viewing the town halls, click here.

Also Friday, San Jose Unified asked for families to participate in a survey on reopening plans. It came as teachers’ unions informed the district that they would not support in-person instruction at this time.

“San José Unified is reassessing the details of returning students to their classrooms in the fall and we need to collect more information from our community to take the next step,” the district said in an email obtained by Cupertino Today.

San Jose Unified’s survey is open until July 14. To complete that survey, click here.