Courtesy of the Hollister School District:
The Hollister School District has convened a group of 15 district employees who will serve on the School Reopening Task Force.
The district has been planning for the reopening of all district campuses since April 1, 2020. The planning began when school principals and district administrators walked school campuses to inspect offices, classrooms, restrooms, and shared spaces for potential COVID-19 concerns. These visits helped create a better understanding of how the district would need to make changes to safeguard student/staff health in the new school year.
The next step in the process was to establish a School Reopening Task Force composed of classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, secretarial support staff, school nurses, and administration. The district has held the first two of five School Reopening Task Force meetings.
“The first two School Reopening Task Force meetings have been a success, Superintendent Ochoa said. “The team will continue to meet each week to dig deep into the details of reopening schools. The task force will focus on social distancing, health guidelines, classroom instruction, online learning, and parent involvement.”
The School Reopening Task Force is working through the many policies that would need to be in place for schools to reopen with children attending in-person. Schools may reopen with a hybrid model where children spend some days at home and other days in school. Establishing a hybrid model would allow the schools to maintain 6 feet of social distance in classrooms and all areas of campus. If the public health guidance were to change for the better, the district is also planning for a full-return to in person learning as well.
“We are going to be prepared to reopen according to the best medical advice from the State of California, the California School Nurses Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control, Superintendent Ochoa said. “I want parents to learn about the guidelines being created by these entities and to have a chance to give us feedback. I’m looking forward to interacting with parents on our district Youtube Channel on June 8 and June 22.”
School Reopening Planning Timeline
| Date/Time | Event | Attendees |
| May 22, 2020, 3pm | School Reopening Task Force Meeting #1Focus: Collaboration and Social Distancing | Select teachers, classified staff, school nurse, and administrators |
| May 29, 2020, 3pm | School Reopening Task Force Meeting #2Focus: Health/Safety Procedures, Classroom Instruction | Select teachers, classified staff, school nurse, and administrators |
| June 5, 2020, 3pm | School Reopening Task Force Meeting #3Focus: Distance Learning & Parent Involvement | Select teachers, classified staff, school nurse, and administrators |
| June 8, 2020, 5pm | Hollister School District School Reopening Parent Town Hall: Discuss updates regarding State of California guidance and HSD plans | All HSD parents are invited to call in or email in questions that will be answered live on Youtube |
| June 9, 2020, 6pm | Special Board of Trustees Meeting: Discuss updates regarding State of California guidance and HSD plans | Limited in-person attendance. The public may call in or email questions that will be answered live on Youtube |
| June 12, 2020, 3pm | School Reopening Task Force Meeting #4Focus: Creating DRAFT Reopening Plan | Select teachers, classified staff, school nurse, and administrators |
| June 19, 2020 | School Reopening Task Force Meeting #5Focus: Finalizing DRAFT Reopening Plan | Select teachers, classified staff, school nurse, and administrators |
| June 22, 2020 | Hollister School District School Reopening Parent Town Hall: DRAFT Reopening Plan | All members of the public may call in or email in questions that will be answered live on Youtube |
| June 23, 2020 | Regular Board of Trustees Meeting: Discuss DRAFT Reopening Plan and consider adoption for 2020-2021. | Limited in-person attendance. The public may call in or email questions that will be answered live on Youtube |
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Superintendent Diego Ochoa at [email protected].
