No waivers have yet been granted in Contra Costa County. Despite being in the red tier and getting the OK from the state to reopen schools, the county is taking a cautious approach and requiring schools to apply for permission to reopen. Contra Costa continues to be on the state’s monitoring list of counties. October 30 Friday Update: Inside a Learning Suite at Michelle Obama School; Stay Safe this Weekend We had an exciting week with the virtual grand opening of WCCUSD's newest school under a new name, the Michelle Obama School. California recently transitioned to a new four-tier, color-coded coronavirus monitoring system, which opens the door for more school reopenings based on a county’s risk level. She is a University of Washington graduate. First day of school… K-12 Schools (distance learning only except for schools that have previously reopened with or without a waiver for in-person learning) Saunas & Steam Rooms Shopping Malls (max 20% capacity indoors and food courts and common areas closed) Social Gatherings Spas / … CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) — All students in Contra Costa County will start the school year with distance learning. See Contra Costa County Office of Education Press Release (PDF). Antioch Unified. County health officers decide whether to approve waivers, in consultation with the California Department of Public Health. And 22 private schools in Contra Costa County have applied to reopen. Sonoma County is currently above that threshold. K-12 Schools (distance learning only except for schools that have previously reopened with or without a waiver for in-person learning) Saunas & Steam Rooms Shopping Malls (max 20% capacity indoors and food courts and common areas closed) Social Gatherings Spas / … Here’s where each county stands. The five step criteria includes: The district plans a back-to-school webinar in early August to share its plans for the school year. For information about schools, check with your school district or visit County Office of Education. Before returning to the Bay Area, she held roles as transportation reporter and trending news reporter at the IndyStar in Indianapolis. But Liberty Union High School District Superintendent Eric Volta said Tuesday that schools cannot open unless Contra Costa County Health Services allows them to. San Mateo County has received around 15 applications, mostly from private schools. Last week, the county announced it had approved waiver applications for 15 schools, cleared to reopen as early as Sept. 8. As of Wednesday, the East Bay county had approved 14 school waivers and received 32 total, all from private or charter schools, according to the county health office. Newsom. The county has approved waivers for 15 elementary schools so far, and is keeping a list of the approvals and applications received on its public health website. In order to move into the more permissive red tier, the county had to see average case rates drop below 7 per 100,000 people and testing positivity rates dip below 8%. Desks in Samantha Kelly'€™s 1st grade classroom are spaced at least six feet apart at Bayside Martin Luther King Jr. Academy in Sausalito, Calif. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. 10 Contra Costa Schools Cleared To Open The state has approved waiver applications for ten schools allowing them to reopen for in-person education, … Approvals will be given on a rolling basis, with elementary schools given first priority in September, followed by middle schools in October and high schools in November. Click here to refresh school closings and delays. Twelve other schools submitted applications, and their approvals are pending. As of Wednesday, the East Bay county had approved 14 school waivers and received 32 total, all from private or charter schools, according to the county health office. April 7, 2020 - Contra Costa Joins Bay Area Counties in Extending Distance Learning Through End of the 2019-2020 School Year. The state recommends that all schools that are open for in-person instruction test staff once every two months, or 25% of staff every two weeks. Twitter: @KellieHwang. Oakland and San Bernardino districts are among those that already have have said they'll start off with distance learning. All schools are required to close when at least 5% of staff and students test positive for Covid-19 within 14 days. Dear Parents, Thank you so much for your patience and support as we continue to develop plans for opening school on August 19. Private schools are expected to apply first, while public schools still need to reach an agreement with the teachers union. This includes both … Nearly 50 private schools and two charter schools have pending applications. What will it take to get a COVID-19 vaccine and how will it be made? “Contra Costa County is one of 32 counties on the state’s watch list which also includes nearby Alameda, San Joaquin and Sacramento. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY (CBS SF) — More indoor businesses, including movie theaters, gyms and restaurant dining rooms, as well as school will soon be able to reopen as Contra Costa County … But Liberty Union High School District Superintendent Eric Volta on Tuesday explained again that schools cannot open unless Contra Costa County Health Services allows them to. Copyright © 2021 KGO-TV. Marin County Elementary and secondary schools (TK-12th grade) in Contra Costa County are now allowed to reopen for in-person instruction without a waiver or permission from Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS). The West Contra Costa Unified School District schools and buildings are closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Track progress on 6 key metrics to reopening here, Life after COVID-19: Here's what restaurants, gyms will look like, Here's everything allowed to open in CA (and what we're still waiting on). On Tuesday, the county moved from the purple tier to the less restrictive red tier. Classrooms across the Bay Area had been shuttered since mid-March because of the pandemic, and state health officials released guidelines in early August for elementary schools to request waivers to reopen under strict safety protocols. As ICU bed crisis escalates, California orders counties to accept transfer... California imposes new health order forcing hospitals with available capacity... Richmond sued over plan to develop site laden with pollutants. Currently, elementary schools can apply for a waiver from the health officer to reopen. This includes both public and private schools. The Workforce Development Board Call Center for Contra Costa County small businesses and workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As you may be aware, the California Department of Education has published a guidebook for the safe reopening of schools and just this week Contra Costa County has issued additional guidance for schools in our county. For example, if a county moves to the Substantial (red) tier on Tuesday, September 8, and stays there for two weeks, schools can open Wednesday, September 23. The county is currently in the red tier. color-coded coronavirus monitoring system, citing the challenge of a state requirement, These charts show just how extreme the rent declines in San Francisco were in 2020, COVID vaccine distribution in the Bay Area: Here’s what you need to know, How many vaccine doses has your Bay Area county received? Currently, according to the Contra Costa County Department of … List: Where can I get tested for COVID-19 in the Bay Area? Tiers take effect the day after assignment. Following a summer-long battle against COVID-19, Contra Costa County has begun easing business and gathering restrictions while allowing some local schools to reopen. COVID-19 Diaries: Personal stories of Bay Area residents during novel coronavirus pandemic, Coronavirus Doctor's Note: Dr. Alok Patel gives his insight into COVID-19 pandemic, WATCH: ABC7 Listens 'From Anger To Action: A Bay Area Conversation', Symptoms, prevention, and how to prepare for a COVID-19 outbreak in the US. Los Altos School District and Union School District are the only two public schools with applications currently under review. Both Alameda and Contra Costa counties also remain on the state Department of Public Health’s county monitoring list. Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Officials said there is no time frame for when any schools might reopen. What does COVID-19 do to your body and why does it spread so easily? (See also curriculum resources). Contra Costa County has 2,294 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 62 deaths as of Sunday’s update. According to the San Mateo County Department of Education, 20 schools have been approved to reopen, mostly a mix of private, charter and independent schools, and schools for students with special needs. Governor Gavin Newsom announces #COVID19 guidance for schools and provide an update on the state’s response to the pandemic. Schools must post their reopening plans, and return the applications to the county health office by Sept. 17. Opening our schools in a manner that protects the health and safety of students and staff is our number one priority. 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The West Contra Costa Unified School District schools and buildings are closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. CONCORD, Calif. (KGO) -- The massive Mt Diablo Unified School District with 31,000 students from Clayton to Concord to Pacheco will be opening schools … CONCORD, Calif. (KGO) -- The massive Mt Diablo Unified School District with 31,000 students from Clayton to Concord to Pacheco will be opening schools for the fall without "opening" school buildings. Formerly known a Wilson Elementary, Michelle Obama School is one of the first flexible space schools in the Bay Area. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) — All students in Contra Costa County will start the school year with distance learning. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com. Some businesses and activities that had previously been permitted in the county are affected: Offices for “non-essential” business sectors, as determined by the state – visit covid19.ca.gov for more information when it becomes available. Andrea Keenan hands a laptop to Maria Garcia for her son Jeremy, 6, who is starting 2nd grade at Bayside Martin Luther King Jr. Academy in Sausalito, Calif. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020. The order includes both public and private schools. Outdoor dining and swimming pools in the county have been open since June 5. Contra Costa does meet the criteria, so this part of the governor’s order does apply to the county. For the past two weeks, Contra Costa … Previously, Kellie covered dining news and trends, visual arts, events and nightlife for the Arizona Republic, and freelanced for the former Contra Costa Times. A school in a county that moves back into the purple tier should exceed this. What to Expect When Schools Reopen 5 | Contra Costa County 2020-2021 School Year Planning Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) recommends the following health and safety guidance for the reopening of schools based on current information. Check where you are in line, 1 NorCal county moves into less restrictive tier, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, Expect face masks, social distancing, possible 'hybrid' learning when kids return to classrooms, CA superintendent says, Teachers, parents concerned over San Francisco and Oakland's plans to start distance learning this fall, San Francisco health officials release school reopening guidelines amid COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 Help: Comprehensive list of resources, information, From salons to dinner parties: Experts rate the risk of 12 activities, California reopening: Here's what's open, closed in the Bay Area, Watch list: Counties where COVID-19 is getting worse, When will the San Francisco Bay Area reopen? The K-8 school was anticipating opening to in-class learning Tuesday but a potential positive test of the COVID-19 virus of a staff member delayed the opening for at least one week. Unemployment and economic information and resources for businesses & employees. Both K-12 schools and institutes of higher education are currently set to reopen in the months of July and August, though start dates will vary by district. San Francisco, Napa and Santa Clara are the only three Bay Area counties in the less restrictive red tier. Both counties began accepting applications last week. Bayside Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy in Sausalito prepared to reopen on Tuesday, but was forced to postpone its plans Monday night after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus. Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19, Experts compare face shield vs. face mask effectiveness. Contra Costa County. What is a COVID-19 genetic, antigen and antibody test? As of Sept. 4, 10 private schools had received approval waivers from Contra Costa Health Services and the California Department of Education. Home Brentwood East Contra Costa School Districts Announce Plans for 2020-21 School Year Brentwood Oakley East Contra Costa School Districts Announce Plans for 2020-21 School Year All Rights Reserved. While the county has begun accepting and reviewing waiver applications, they will be approved only if a county’s case rate is fewer than 200 per population of 100,000 for the previous two weeks. The next tier, red, allows counties to reopen schools if they’ve been at that level for at least two weeks, though counties and districts can still impose stricter rules than the state. Check this new tracker, How big was San Francisco’s pandemic exodus? The state template application form requires schools to submit proof that they have consulted with parents, labor unions and community groups. Guidance regarding school and childcare closures, reopening, etc. That came less than a week after fell back to the red tier on … This guidance will be updated as the situation changes. April 3, 2020 - See Press Release (PDF): Contra Costa Issues Mass Isolation and Quarantine Orders for People with COVID-19 and Their Close Contacts. But the county’s largest public school district, Napa Valley Unified, said it does not plan to move ahead with reopening at this time, citing the challenge of a state requirement for schools to regularly test a certain percentage of employees. Those in the riskiest purple tier cannot reopen schools unless the health department grants a waiver, for K-6 elementary schools only. When the 2020-2021 school year begins in Contra Costa County, schools, classrooms, and in- class instruction will look much different this year due to new COVID-19 measures. Students in Contra Costa County will begin the new year at home until local school districts meet the requirements of a new five-step statewide plan laid out today by Gov. Here’s where each Bay Area county currently stands: Last week, the county released its waiver process that first requires interested schools to complete a questionnaire by Friday, Sept. 11. The approved schools are a mix of private, public, independent and charter schools, and some can reopen only for students with disabilities and special needs. Kellie Hwang is the engagement reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. In Contra Costa County, … PLEASANT HILL, Calif., May 6, 2020 – Recently, the school districts in Contra Costa County proudly submitted their 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year (TOY)... read more about Contra Costa County’s school districts announce their 2020-2021 Teachers of the Year On Nov. 17, the state moved Contra Costa County into its most restrictive tier (purple tier) for reopening criteria. Outdoor dining and swimming pools in the county have been open since June 5. Plan: Pending. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. Marin County said 15 schools have been cleared to open on September 8. Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) issued the following information on Monday, October 13 regarding the reopening of schools in Contra Costa County. And 22 private schools in Contra Costa County have applied to … ActivityHero editors have put together this handy, all-in-one 2020-2021 calendar for all the districts in Contra Costa County, including holidays, Thanksgiving Break, and Spring Break. The reopening process for Bay Area elementary schools got off to a slow start, but last week, waiver approvals in some counties started rolling in. Look at U-Haul traffic, Why CO2 monitors and indoor ventilation may be a key to curb COVID spread, California’s EDD freezes many people’s unemployment benefits to combat fraud, S.F. ActivityHero editors have put together this handy, all-in-one 2020-2021 calendar for all the districts in Contra Costa County, including holidays, Thanksgiving Break, and Spring Break. The county health department says it has received a handful of waiver applications from private and charter schools, and they are currently under review. Contra Costa County continued a backward slide on November 16 when it reverted to the purple tier. Please also refer to our FAQ document on our Across the Bay Area, only Morehead School District in San Jose and Sunnyvale Christian School in Santa Clara County … Contra Costa County: Roadmap to Reopening Schools (Updated July 30) Del Norte County: Coronavirus Updates (Updated July 20) El Dorado County Office of Education: Addressing the Challenges of COVID-19 (Issued July 28) Fresno County: Reopening Schools, Planning Assumptions & Considerations (Updated June 30) The Alameda County Office of Education screens the questionnaires on a rolling basis and said it would begin sending waiver applications Wednesday. Following a summer-long battle against COVID-19, Contra Costa County has begun easing business and gathering restrictions while allowing some local schools to reopen. Finding and comparing Contra Costa County school district calendars has been difficult — until now. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) — After just a short time in the Red tier, Contra Costa County has been moved back again to the most restrictive phase of reopening in California. As of Sept. 4, 10 private schools had received approval waivers from Contra Costa Health Services and the California Department of Education. According to Napa County spokeswoman Janet Upton, schools can choose to reopen as early as Sept. 14. That prevents the re-opening of … Kellie also serves as co-director of the Asian American Journalists Association Features Forum. Finding and comparing Contra Costa County school district calendars has been difficult — until now. Each district and school in our county is developing plans to reopen schools based on … Both K-12 schools and institutes of higher education are currently set to reopen in the months of July and August, though start dates will vary by district. Bay Area elementary schools are starting to reopen. Contra Costa County Allowed To Reopen Under Red Tier Guidelines - San Ramon, CA - Contra Costa moved into the state's red or substantial COVID-19 … Contra Costa Health Services works closely with the Contra Costa County Office of Education and CocoKids on issues related to COVID-19 for schools and childcare facilities. Starting Aug. 13, students will resume classes via distance learning only. parolee accused of killing pedestrians faced life sentence in earlier case, but got five years, Coronavirus live updates: 60 now infected at Kaiser San Jose following deadly incident possibly linked to Christmas costume. Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area. Schools can reopen for in-person instruction once their county has been in the Substantial (red) tier for two weeks. The K-8 school was anticipating opening to in-class learning Tuesday but a potential positive test of the COVID-19 virus of a staff member delayed the opening for at least one week. School Delays, Closings and Weather Cancellations for Contra Costa County CA. Contra Costa County has 2,294 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 62 deaths as of Sunday’s update. Schools in Contra Costa County may not have as long to wait. This means public and private elementary schools (TK – 6th grade) must submit applications online to local health and education officials to allow in-person instruction at their campuses unless they have already reopened or begun to reopen. In Contra Costa County, Brentwood Union Elementary School District and Oakley Union Elementary School District said they will start with a 100% online experience. 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