Merced schools launch first day of instruction with ‘distance learning’ amid pandemic
It was a different first-day-of-school experience for many Merced County teachers on Wednesday, as they taught in empty classrooms through a webcam to their new students on Zoom.
Merced County schools are starting the year with distance learning after Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this year mandated that schools in counties that appear on the state’s monitoring list were prohibited to open with in-person classes.
For now, all local schools — both public and private — must provide instruction through distance learning, until the county is taken off the state monitoring list.
Meanwhile, the Merced County Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported 122 new coronavirus infections, which brings the total number of county residents who’ve tested positive to 6,224. The county’s first case was reported March 22.
Total Merced County deaths due to COVID-19 remained at 74 with no new deaths reported Wednesday. The total number of Merced County residents currently hospitalized is 93, up five patients from Tuesday. There have been 394 residents hospitalized since the start of the pandemic.
There are 2,318 residents considered active with the virus in the county, the Department of Public Health estimates.
Months of preparing schools
Though Wednesday was the kickoff for instruction for many of Merced County’s school districts, some still have a little bit of time before the fall semester starts.
Merced Union High School District, for example, delayed school by a week until Aug. 19, in order to allow more time to plan distance learning. Gustine Unified also delayed its opening date until Aug. 19, while Hilmar Unified has delayed classes until Sept. 3.
Merced City School District, which is comprised of 19 elementary and middle schools, was one of the school districts in Merced County which started instruction Wednesday.
Teachers have put in many hours of work preparing for the start of school and distance learning, according to district spokesperson Joey Horta. “We’ve been preparing for months, all through the summer,” Horta said. It’s amazing how easily the kids can navigate their Chromebooks and iPads.”
According to Horta, MCSD has provided each student with either a Chromebook or an iPad. The district has also distributed hotspots to students who are in need of internet service.
Most teachers spent Wednesday teaching from an empty classroom online through Zoom. Part of the day, teachers taught lessons to the entire class over Zoom. Other times were also set up for one-on-one time between teachers and students.
According to Horta, teachers with health concerns were permitted to work from home, rather than teaching from an empty classroom on campus.
“We want the teachers in the classroom because that’s where their resources are,” Horta said. “The whole point is to improve on the experience we had this spring.”
All 20 of the school districts in Merced County are offering free meals to students with the start of the school year. According to Horta, MCSD handed out 117,000 meals to students in June and July compared to just 24,000 meals last year during that time.
“People are relying on the schools to feed their kids,” Horta said.
All 19 MCSD schools are handing out meals. Curb-side grab and go meals (breakfast and lunch) resumed on Wednesday during either time of 7:00-8:30 a.m. or 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. every school day, at your child’s school of attendance.
Parents will need to provide their student’s name and ID number when picking up meals. Your child does not need to be present. Breakfast is free to all students. Lunch is free to all eligible students. Students paying for lunch will incur a charge of $2.25 on their school lunch account.
Horta said he visited 14 schools in the district on Wednesday.
“I think both sides — teachers and students — were excited to start school,” Horta said. “I could hear the voices through the Zoom calls. There were a lot of smiles on teachers’ faces. I think they were eager to be back doing what they are passionate about, which is teaching.”
This story was originally published August 12, 2020 at 6:52 PM.
