Santa Cruz Schools Unveil Timeline For Older Students To Return

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Santa Cruz City Schools has released its timeline for middle and high school students to return back to the classroom, since officials are optimistic that the county will return to the red tier next week.

Here's the current timeline, assuming COVID-19 trends continue as expected, according to a letter Superintendent Kris Munro was slated to send Wednesday night:

• March 15: transitional kindergarten and kindergarten return
• March 22: first through fifth grades return
• April 5: middle and high school students begin hybrid instruction

Middle and high school students will begin on-campus orientations the week of March 22, Munro said. Schools will share more specific details with parents.

Students who prefer distance learning will still be able to participate in class via Zoom.

There will be safety protocols in place, such as social distancing, hand-washing and sanitizing, daily screenings and classroom cleanings and upgraded ventilation systems. Personal protective equipment will be available for students and staff, and secondary staff have been vaccinated, Munro said.

SCCS said it's been testing its safety protocols since students returned to small cohorts in October. Nearly 1,000 students have participated in the groups.

View the class schedules below: