The Morongo Unified School District Board of Trustees spent nearly two hours at last night’s regular meeting discussing the district’s “reopening of schools plan” for the 2020-2021 school year. Recent orders form Governor Newsom mandated distance learning for all schools within counties on the state’s Coronavirus Monitoring list, reducing MUSD education models down to distance learning and independent study. Reporter Andrew Dieleman says some details of the new distance learning programs are still being developed…
Representatives for teachers and district employees expressed concerns at last night’s school board meeting over whether there was sufficient support and time for training to use the online Canvas program before the first day of school. Board members stated that time for teacher training has been scheduled and that many details are still to be worked out during upcoming negotiations. The school district is prepared to loan electronic devices and web cameras to students, and alternative options are being formulated for students who have disabilities or do not have internet access. Superintendent Tom Baumgarten then went into details on other instruction models, safety protocols, transportation protocols, and sanitation at school sites for when physical attendance at schools is again permitted. The school district may be able to apply for an in-person education waiver from the county health department once the waiver is developed, but must open via distance learning in the meantime.
The board also held a public hearing on interfund transfers, approved an agreement between the school district and the Department of Rehabilitation, approved the purchase of new science textbooks for grades K-6, and accepted a $30,000 “No Kid Hungry” grant to go towards school meal programs.
