Santa Barbara Unified School District welcomes back students and staff after winter break during Omicron surge

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Winter break fell during the fifth wave of COVID-19. Cases skyrocketed around the country and state. Over one million new cases were reported Monday in the United States. By far a new pandemic record.

Already in January Santa Barbara County Public Health has stated 1,535 new COVID cases. And 3,709 new cases in the last week. A seven-day average of 530.

Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) is feeling the impacts of the record-breaking fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. 52 teachers called out sick Monday, 27 due to covid. 50 called out Tuesday, 25 due to COVID.
To fill classrooms, administrators had to call in counselors and tutors, even staff from the central office.

SBUSD superintendent, Hilda Maldonado, said she hasn't seen anything like this. “This is the first time that we’ve gone to the third layer which is taking staff from the central office and deploying them to schools.”

Superintendent Maldonado said her goal is to keep kids in school as much as possible. But, the district may have to come up with a case-by-case plan at each campus. That could mean combining classes if there aren't enough teachers or going virtual if there are too many covid cases. Right now she said there is no guidance for virtual learning.

“We’re trying to get clarity on who gets to make that call. Is that a superintendent, my superintendent's decision, or is that something that has to come from Public Health or even our governor,” said Maldonado.

Santa Barbara Unified has three testing options for students and staff, an at-home test kit, which was already sent out, testing and exposure monitoring via mobile app and rapid tests offered at Earl Warren Showgrounds free for students and staff.

On Sunday before classes started, there were long lines and confusion about testing. On Tuesday the lines went back down to a more manageable number.

Superintendent Maldonado said if a student or faculty member needs a COVID test they should speak to the office at their school. Otherwise, they can schedule a rapid test at Earl Warren Showgrounds here. Testing at that site is open to anyone. Tests cost $149. There is also a rapid testing site at La Cumbre Plaza for $125. Click here to make an appointment.