Oakland schools could begin reopening before the end of March, after leaders from the teachers union and the school district reached a deal Sunday.
The tentative agreement, which won't become official unless it is first approved by the Oakland Education Association and then passed by the Oakland Unified School District board, also preserves the option for students to remain in distance learning.
The first phase of the agreement has in-person classes resuming March 30 for pre-kindergarten through second grade, as well as for priority students, with the second phase starting April 19 for grades 3-5 and at least one secondary grade to be determined later. Few other details were released.
The district announced the tentative agreement late Sunday night just before midnight in a press release. The union is expected to vote on the agreement this week. If teachers approve the deal, it would then go before the district school board for a vote.
The agreement allows families to keep their students in distance learning if they prefer. Few other details of the agreement were included in the district statement.
Teachers in the first phase who choose to opt-in would return to campus March 25 to prepare for the transition. Teachers in the second phase would return to campus April 14.
The district noted that campuses will operate at a limited capacity due to public health guidance to maintain physical distancing.
"We reached a tentative agreement that is just, equitable, and most importantly, safe," said Keith Brown, president of the Oakland Education Association. "We believe that phasing in student return on April 19 allows all educators to complete their vaccinations, if they so choose, and for California's targeted vaccination program to reach our most vulnerable communities."
Despite the approval of union leaders, opposition to the agreement has already formed among some teachers and community members.
Even before the district announced the deal, a group calling itself the Equal Opportunity by Any Means Necessary Caucus said it opposes any reopening of schools while transmission rates of COVID-19 are still high.
—Bay City News