CCSD Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara and CCSD Board of Trustees member Deanna Wright meet with kitchen staff at Basic Academy of International Studies during the first day of the new school year, Monday Aug 24, 2020.
Published Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 | 9:44 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 | 11:48 a.m.
The Clark County School District and the teachers union have reached a tentative agreement laying the groundwork for some students to possibly return to the classroom next year.
The agreement with the Clark County Eduction Association is a first step for students in pre-kindergarten through third grade to resume face-to-face instruction, the district said.
Students have been attending classes remotely since mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The School Board will consider the agreement and a reopening plan on Jan. 14. The earliest some schools could reopen would be February, Superintendent Jesus Jara said.
“This pandemic has taken a toll on the emotional and educational needs of our children, and it is time for us as a community to rally around this opportunity to return our students and educators to the classroom," Jara said in a statement.
School Board President Lola Brooks called the agreement "a necessary step before a constructive conversation can be held."
Under a phased reopening plan, teachers in vulnerable populations would be allowed to continue working remotely. The plan will also allow flexibility for parents to choose whether their child returns to school.
The agreement addresses safety protocols and standards including daily symptom screening, monthly COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, providing personal protective equipment to all employees and strict classroom and building sanitation.
Union President Marie Neisess said the agreement is "a step in the right direction for our students and front line educators. Given the challenges with COVID-19, there is no perfect path to reopen. However, through collaborating with CCSD, we think this agreement allows us to jointly determine the best steps to take for our students to achieve an education."
Attempts to return in August at the start of the new school year weren’t approved, as union leadership wasn’t happy with reopening plans they said were inadequate to keeping teachers safe from the virus.
Another proposal to bring students back on a hybrid basis — two days in person and three days at home — was never voted on in November because of a surge in the virus.
The push to bring students back has picked up momentum because of reports of students struggling socially and mentally without the support system of daily, face-to-face interaction. Jara said last month that 11 students had committed suicide since March.
