The Milpitas Unified School District announced that its classes are open for in-person learning on Monday despite rising COVID-19 cases, reversing course from an earlier decision requiring students to quarantine at home this week.
The district announced last Friday that all its schools were being placed in a 10-day quarantine where families were not expected to travel and attend large gatherings, and were advised to practice "risk mitigation measures in and around" their homes, the superintendents office said in a statement last week. The schools would return to in-person learning on Jan. 18.
However, the district reversed that decision on Saturday.
"We learned that we are not able to offer a 'districtwide quarantine' as shared in our Friday communication. Community quarantines may be declared by County Public Health,' the office wrote. As a result, all district schools will be open for in-person learning from Jan. 10 to Jan. 14.
"In order for us to curb the increase in COVID cases amongst students and staff members, we need everyone to follow safety protocols of masking, getting vaccinations or boosters when eligible and available,” the office added.
Students still have the option to learn remotely, however to do so they must enroll in the district's independent study program, either short-term or long term.
The initial quarantine was implemented due to “rising omicron case rates” throughout the community.” According to the superintendent’s office, last week the district experienced "an exorbitant number of positive student and staff cases." As a result, there were 107 support staff positions unfilled last week, on top of 167 unfilled substitute teacher positions this year, causing the district to "cover classes with other teachers, principals, district office staff, as well as grouping classes together with one teacher."
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