State COVID-19 change could bring older Cook County students back to class Oct. 5

(Update: Adding video, comment)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- An unexpected move by the Oregon Department of Education could mean Crook County students in grades 4-12 will soon return to class, the school district announced Thursday.

ODE announced in a letter to Oregon school districts Thursday that it will suspend county and state test positivity rates through September, due to the recent wildfires. Total case counts and cases per 100,000 will remain as the leading metrics for reopening schools.

“I’m surprised by ODE’s announcement today, and I’m more optimistic than ever that we are going to have students back in person soon,” said Crook County Superintendent Dr. Sara Johnson. “We now have two potential pathways to reopening: meeting local metrics or ODE approving our pilot designation.”

Communications Director Jason Carr said, "We need to maintain two cases or less for three weeks in a row in order to open, and again we've done that the first two weeks of September. So we need to do that again this week -- and if we do that, then we can make preparations on Monday to begin opening schools for the rest of our students."

Crook County has met all local metrics the first two weeks of September. Two cases have been reported so far this week, and that number must be maintained through Saturday.

If the metrics are in the district’s favor on Monday – or three weeks in a row – then the school district will submit plans to ODE to transition from distance learning to hybrid.

Here are the steps for a potential reopening:

• Declare hybrid model to ODE on Monday, September 28^th (if metrics are met)
• Utilize the week of September 28^th to plan and communicate with parents
• Grades 4-12 begin returning for in-person instruction starting Monday, October 5^th

Principals are working with teachers to finalize plans for each building, and the school district will release full details to families early next week once the COVID-19 metrics are updated. Students and teachers will continue with Comprehensive Distance Learning next week, regardless of the metrics.

“If we can return, next week will be used to get bus routes finalized, instruction planned, and get buildings ready for students," Johnson said. "We promised families early on that we’d give them at least one week of notice. We want students back, but it’s important to be thoughtful in our approach.”

The school district sent a letter to ODE Wednesday, asking for an update on its pilot designation request. The request was initially submitted on Wednesday, Sept, 14. ODE acknowledged receiving the follow up, but still hasn’t responded with a final decision, the district said.