The PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs have forced school districts in areas without power to adjust their distance learning plans, but officials say it’s just one more challenge to adapt to this year.
The electricity in many parts of Lafayette could be out all day, including at Happy Valley Elementary, where principal Shayna Peeff said they’ve been planning for this since Friday.
“We’ve been trying to communicate with our families in lots of different ways,” she told KCBS Radio.
Peeff said that last October, power was out at the school for three days due to a PSPS, but at least then, students could come to school in-person.
“We learned that it was helpful to have a list of activities that we knew were great for kids that they could not need devices for, and that would be effective,” she added.
However, because of distance learning, much of the school work is handed out in advance.
“The teachers have been giving students supplies every two weeks, and so the kids have a lot of materials at home that they already have access to,” Peeff said.
She told KCBS Radio they’ve also made plans to make sure teachers have access to power and internet.
“One of our middle schools offered for us to be Zooming from their classrooms, because they will have power,” said the principal. “Everyone’s going to do the best they can.”
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