As the first day of school quickly approaches, school districts countywide, including the Morongo Unified School District, are working to finalize distance learning programs for the upcoming school year. As these programs continue to develop, more information is being made available to district students and parents. County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre, County Acting Health Officer Dr. Erin Gustafson, and MUSD Superintendent Tom Baumgarten all sat down with Gary Daigneault during the Z107.7 Up-close Show on Friday, August 14, to provide more information. Reporter Andrew Dieleman has the details…
During the Z107.7 Up-Close show, County Acting Health Officer Dr. Erin Gustafson stated that San Bernardino County is slowly recovering from COVID-19.
“We [the County] are seeing declines in the hospitalizations and in the percent of positive [COVID-19] tests. Although there were issues with the State data system, so we’re waiting for that to stabilize so that we know that our data is accurate.”
County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre stated that he meets regularly with Dr. Gustafson to discuss ways to protect students, staff, and faculty countywide from the spread of COVID-19 when school sites eventually reopen. In the meantime, school districts countywide have prepared their own unique plans for beginning the school year through distance learning.
“Based on the governors orders, we really have to start distance learning. Then when the whole county gets better, then we can start planning for other models which include students being physically present in school.”
According to Morongo Unified School District Superintendent Tom Baumgarten, parents of students should contact the principals of their students’ schools for information on securing supplies and digital devices. The school district is also working on a plan to create internet hotspots for Morongo Basin students.
“We’re actually committed to eventually making every school site similar to a radio tower, we’re going to make that the hotspot for that community.”
Later in the show, Dr. Gustafson answered questions related to in-person waivers for private schools, the opening of daycares and public pools, and how to best prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Alejandre reinforced the validity of distance learning as an education model, discussed sports schedules and extracurricular activities for the upcoming school year, and the challenges of homeschooling students.
Baumgarten outlined more specifics for MUSD’s distance learning and independent study programs and stated that online student schedules are nearly complete, that high school will not begin for students until 8:30 a.m., and that teachers have developed guidelines for teaching and interacting virtually with students.
