Lompoc Unified to recommend reopening for in-person classes in January

LOMPOC, Calif. - The Lompoc Unified School District announced Friday that it plans to recommend to the Board of Education that schools reopen in January if it is safe to do so.

In accordance with this decision, staff is recommending an early January Board meeting to provide additional guidance for reopening.

“Safety continues to be our top priority. We value life over everything else. Should we be in a safe tier as we near second semester we could reopen in either a hybrid or full in-person model,” said Superintendent Trevor McDonald.

Santa Barbara County is currently in the state's "red" reopening tier. This tier is also known as the "substantial" spread tier. The county will have to exhibit even lower rates of COVID-19 transmission over the next few weeks to continue moving up the tiers which would allow businesses and schools to continue reopening.

It is unclear where the county will sit by the time next year rolls around.

“LUSD continues to work with our labor partners so that we will be ready to reopen for students, while maintaining safety for all,” said Bree Valla, Deputy Superintendent.

The LUSD School Board will be discussing the idea of reopening schools at their regularly scheduled Board meeting on October 13, 2020.

This announcement comes exactly one month after Lompoc Unified passed on the opportunity to apply for in-person learning waivers from the state for elementary schools.