The Carson City school board conducted its six-month review of its school reopening plan, renamed its “Plan for a Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services,” updating the language guiding the district’s policies regarding distance learning offerings. The regular updates are necessary to maintain eligibility for the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding offered to states due to COVID-19 from 2020-21 when schools were closed and mandated to provide services through remote or hybrid plans. The plan first was presented to the public June 22, 2021, approved by the board July 13, 2021, and revised Jan. 11, 2022. In a May 6 press release, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak announced an end to the state of emergency to the pandemic, but the American Rescue Plan requires local education agencies receiving ESSER funds to keep plans for a safe return to instruction and continuity of services in place through Sept. 30, 2023. The district’s summary on the item notes the end of the state of emergency means the plan no longer has to include details pertaining to distance learning offerings. Districts still can provide distance education plans according to the Nevada Revised Statutes. Tasha Fuson, associate superintendent of educational services, informed the board of trustees during its regular meeting June 28 that the Safe School Reopening Plan must be maintained through Sept. 20, 2023. Fuson presented the distance education plan at the board’s May 10 meeting. Changes to the language on CCSD’s policies were made available in track changes and in a clean Word document for the public to read for comparison. Fuson noted the district now works in partnership with Carson City Health and Human Services to monitor emergency management services to reduce health risks in schools and the likelihood of outbreaks, CCSD has returned to pre-COVID attendance processes. The item was for discussion only.
