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Distance Learning Continues At Secondary Level
ojusd

In a letter to the community, posted on the Oakdale Joint Unified School District website, District Superintendent Marc Malone announced that there won’t be any opening of secondary school campuses for in-person learning at this time.

Malone explained that the “Board of Trustees has acted to postpone announcing any potential reopening date for grades 7-12 to in-person instruction until Stanislaus County reaches the Red Tier in the California Blueprint to a Safer Economy. This postponement is due to the fact that Stanislaus County is currently in the Purple Tier of the Blueprint.”

Malone added that the lifting of the California “Stay at Home” order in late January “had a very minimal impact on schools.”

Oakdale does have its elementary students back on campus in a hybrid-type schedule but has not yet allowed the secondary students to return.

“In the coming weeks, if the County Public Health Officer issues guidance that changes the current implementation of the Blueprint, the OJUSD will certainly respond to any new guidance. When a reopening date can be established for grades 7-12 the OJUSD will utilize the Hybrid Block Schedule Model of instruction that was approved by the Board at the November, 2020 Board Meeting,” Malone indicated.

Those interested in learning more about the overall Reopening Plans for each grade 7-12 school, including the respective bell schedule, can visit their home school website or the District Website.

“Those families not comfortable with in-person instruction will be given the option of registering for Independent Study,” the superintendent noted.

Families can begin registration for Independent Study by calling their respective grade 7-12 school on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021.

“The OJUSD will continue using our current models of instruction until further notice. To be clear, grades TK-6 will continue with the Hybrid Model of Instruction and grades 7-12 will continue with Distance Learning,” summarized Malone.

Also, the California Department of Public Health, in cooperation with the California Interscholastic Federation, CIF, has approved the participation of selected sports while Stanislaus County is in the Purple Tier of the California Blueprint.

“Currently the only sport approved is Cross County but we could see Tennis, Golf and Swimming approved in the next month. Of course, all safety protocols established by the California Department of Public Health must be followed,” Malone said. “The OJUSD is committed to providing our students every educational opportunity afforded by current protocols. Let’s hope that Stanislaus County will soon turn to the Red Tier in the Blueprint which will create many more educational opportunities including in-person instruction for our grade 7-12 students.”