Students in the Lucia Mar Unified School District will not return to class this school year and officials say there is a chance distance learning could continue through the summer.
The Board of Education met Tuesday night to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on schools.
“Given the complex nature of maintaining social distancing requirements in the school setting, and in an effort to protect the health of our students, staff, and the broader community, the Board of Education provided direction to the Superintendent to cancel in-person instruction for the remainder of the 19-20 school year,” Superintendent Andy Stenson said a press release.
The district was hopeful classes could resume as normal in May or June but Stenson says key aspects, including seating arrangements on buses and in classrooms, among other places, could not be done safely under currently social distancing guidelines.
Distance learning will continue until further notice and the district is looking into alternate plans for graduation and other end-of-year activities.
Stenson says staff has been directed by the board to also prepare for the likelihood of summer school being conducted virtually.
“As a school district, we are committed to ending the year strong through distance learning, and are making preparations to meet the challenges ahead if our current health crisis lingers into the late summer/fall of 2020,” Stenson said.