Merced High School District will implement ‘distance learning’ for all students the entire first semester
Decision Based On Merced County Health Department’s Outlook of COVID-19 Caseload
(MUHSD press release)
After consultation with Merced County Department of Public Health (MDPH), Merced Union High School District (MUHSD) has made the decision that all students will learn online for the entire first semester of the 2020-21 school year. MUHSD had previously provided parents the option of either distance learning or having their student attend school on a staggered A/B schedule when it becomes safe to do so.
MUHSD is among the many school districts in California being required to hold classes online when school begins August 12 due to the high number of positive COVID-19 cases in the area, which placed Merced County on the state’s “watch list”. School districts within counties being monitored can only resume in-person instruction after getting off the watch list and staying off for at least 14 consecutive days. MDPH does not believe this scenario is feasible for Merced County by the end of the year.
“As much as we were looking forward to students returning at some point during the fall, the COVID numbers are trending in the wrong direction for a safe reopening for the foreseeable future,” said MUHSD Superintendent Alan Peterson. “MUHSD staff will now focus its efforts on providing students a high-quality online learning experience for the first half of the school year.”
MUHSD continues to encourage the communities it serves to do all they can to help lower the number of COVID-19 cases by wearing a mask, staying socially distant and washing their hands frequently.