According to the district’s website, Lemoore Elementary School District Superintendent Cheryl Hunt said the county’s recent approval, based on the state’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy” allowed the district to transition to an in-person traditional instructional setting for TK (transitional kindergarten)-6th grade students in a phased approach.

On that note, students in TK-first grade students began transitioning on Monday, October 19. Second grade and sixth-grade students are slated to begin returning to school on November 2. “Our TK-1st grades are doing exceptionally well making the transition to school, and we are thrilled to be able to meet their educational needs and welcome them safely back to our sites,” Hunt told The Leader.

“As a district, we have worked hard to ensure we are providing a safe and nurturing environment for each one of our students,” said Cheryl Hunt, Superintendent. “We have worked in partnership with the Kings County Department of Public Health following the essential department public health guidance to support your safe return to our schools.

“We are confident we will make a smooth transition,” added Hunt.

Hunt also stated that the Elementary Waiver Application process applied only to TK-6th grade elementary schools and did not include middle school or high schools. Hunt also confirmed that Liberty Middle School and University Charter School (on the West Hills College Campus) would begin instruction on Nov. 2.

The local elementary district keeps in constant communication with its parents and students via phone calls home, emails, websites, and social media, all of which Hunt hopes leads to a smooth transition back to school.

Hunt also made it clear in her message that the Lemoore District would continue to support an in-person learning option and distance learning option for students for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year. Most students will continue with the same teacher they started the school year with. Other students will be assigned to a new teacher due to selecting a distance-learning option or because their current teacher is being reassigned to support a distance learning classroom.

The District will continue to provide specific expectations that all students and families will need to follow to ensure a safe campus return. Areas that will be covered in detail include:

• Parent/Guardian Daily COVID-19 Health Screening document will need to be completed for each child on the first day back to in-person instruction. The document link is provided here: Health Screening Document and is also provided on the district’s Reopening website page.

• Parents/Guardians must conduct a daily health screening each morning before sending students to school. Any student displaying the symptoms, as noted on the health screening document will need to remain at home.

• Entry and Exit on campus will be designated for specific grade levels. Each school site will share their specific locations as part of the entry/exit protocols.

• Staff will conduct temperature checks upon entry to the campus.

• School schedules will be provided by each school site with specific start and end times.

• Students will remain in grade-level cohort groups. They will have their lunch, recess, and physical education time with their grade level cohort. Specific details can be found on page 3 of the LUESD Reopening Plan.

• Face coverings- If your child rides the bus, they must, regardless of age, wear a face covering. Once entering campus and while on campus, face coverings are highly encouraged for TK-2nd grade, if they can be worn properly. A face shield is an acceptable alternative for a child in this grade level who cannot wear the face-covering properly. Our 3rd-8th grade students are required to wear a face-covering unless exempt. More information can be found on page 6 or the LUESD Reopening Plan.

• Transportation will be provided to our families; however, the bus routes will be reduced to follow physical distancing to safely transport our students to and from school. Additional information is found on page 3 of the LUESD Reopening Plan.

• Face coverings must follow the dress code and not be distracting should a student want to wear their own face covering. Otherwise, cloth face coverings and face shields will be provided by the school district for our students.

• Meals will be served on campus (breakfast and lunch). Meals will continue to be offered free of charge through December 2020. Specific meal expectations can be found on page 3 of the LUESD Reopening Plan. Students who remain in distance learning will continue to be provided grab and go meal service at their current school site. Once all grade levels return for in-person instruction, the meal service will be adjusted to provide grab and go meals for distance learning students at one district school location (TBA).

• Classrooms will be equipped with plexiglass barriers for common group spaces; hand sanitizer dispensers are mounted at entry points, air purifiers are provided, temperature check stations are provided in every room.

• We will not allow any visitors on campus, including parents. Parents/Guardians are not allowed to bring their children to class. If you are going to a school site office, due to the size of these areas, we will adhere to physical distancing and follow the signs as posted. In most cases, only one parent will be allowed in this area at a time. Face coverings must be worn when entering the campus office area.

“The transition back to in-person instruction and maintaining students in the distance learning model will take the entire LUESD school and family community to ensure a successful and safe learning environment,” stated Hunt.