The 25,000 students of the Manteca Unified are going back to school on Monday, April 6.
But they won’t be seated in a classroom.
They will be switching to distance learning through May 15 with tentative plans to return to school sites on May 18 for two more weeks of instruction.
The week of May 18 will be used to assess how effective distance learning was and to do testing. Finals are planned for the following week. During the two-week period summer learning opportunities will be explained. The district had been planning a summer online offering months in advance of the coronavirus pandemic. Since they were forced to close schools due to social distancing the decision was made to make the summer learning program even more robust.
The last day of school is set for May 29.
Decisions regarding whether graduations will take place have yet to be made. Manteca Unified community information officer Victoria Brunn said that regardless efforts will be made to have some type of celebration to mark the milestone for both graduating high school seniors and eighth graders being promoted.
The school board conducted an emergency meeting by conference call Thursday to switch to distance learning.
Students in the fifth through the 12th were already scheduled to collect their digital learning devices from schools this week.
Kindergarten through fourth grade students will need to pick up devices the week of March 30 at their respective school site. If parents have not received instructions on how to do that and when, they need to contact their child’s school.
Teachers are working on developing various delivery models for distance learning. Those families without Internet access are being asked to coordinate with their respective school sites to find out how to retrieve the lesson materials. The district has been working with Comcast to make sure campus wireless service is strong enough to access in school parking lots.
Brunn noted teachers had already started working on the distance learning option when the original decision was made to close schools for two more weeks at the end of spring break until April 6.
She also noted a team of teachers have been working on a website page that is “basic and easy to follow” to provide information for parents with younger children to help them access and navigate through lessons.
“The only true failure would be to do nothing; our students are far too important to sit idle,” noted District Superintendent Clark Burke in an electronic letter sent to parents on Thursday. “As the Superintendent, I will not sit idle. We will endeavor to provide continuity of learning to our students with measured and deliberate steps. Next week, we will deliver more resources to support a transition to distance learning beginning April 6, 2020 addressing individual student needs based on grade level standards achievement in the safest environment possible while pursuing their unique individual pathway.”
Manteca Unified will also continue to serve “grab and go” lunches and breakfasts Monday through Friday
Manteca Unified students in need ages 2 to 18 can pick up “grab and go” meals at all comprehensive schools in the Manteca Unified district.
Pre-packaged breakfast and lunch will be served at the same time. The meals will be distributed Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students can go to the school nearest their home. Students must be present to receive a meal. All meals are free.
The Manteca locations are East Union High, Sierra High, Manteca High, Brock Elliott, George McParland, Golden West, Joshua Cowell, Lincoln, Manteca Day High School, New Haven, Neil Hafley, Nile Garden, Sequoia, Shasta, Stella Brockman, Veritas, and Woodward.
The Lathrop locations are Lathrop High, Lathrop Elementary, Mossdale, and Widmer.
The Weston Ranch-French Camp locations are Weston Ranch High, August Knodt, French Camp, George Komure, and Great Valley.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
