For the 2021-2022 school year, the Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) Governing Board decided the 5 district schools would have students return to campuses for 5 days a week at the meeting on April 14.

However, for the remainder of the 2020-2021 year, the schools will remain in hybrid learning.

The board plans for desks to be placed 3 feet apart, keeping the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) new 3-foot rule in mind, which recommends middle and high school students to be at least 3 feet apart in classrooms where mask use is mandatory.

“There was an announcement of CDPH guidance, the California Department of Public Health, which does have authority over our schools…they do say that 3 feet between chairs…for classroom space. For other spaces where students are taking off their masks, particularly for eating, it needs to be 6 feet,” said superintendent John Nickerson in the open session of the meeting.

Vaccinations, at this time, will not be required for returning students.

Nickerson said in the public portion of the meeting, “It’s quite feasible that [vaccines] will be [required] for subsequent years, just like some of the other vaccinations that are required, but we will encourage it strongly for our students who are eligible, 16 and older, unless there’s a decision with a health care provider…or with the family.”

While for most students this is possible, those students with medical complications or who live with a family member with medical complications do have the option to join the Virtual Academy through Acalanes Center for AUHSD independent study for the 2021-2022 school year. Students will have to show medical proof to do so. According to the hybrid instruction update slides presented by the district, these students will also not be allowed to participate in co- or extracurricular activities. Daily class work will be a mix of asynchronous and synchronous.

“Personally I’m excited to go back full time, it’ll be better for me to be in a more focused environment but on the other hand [in hybrid] I like the fact that I also get time at home to work on assignments and have the freedom to go at my own pace,” said sophomore Kemora Goldstein, who is participating in the hybrid model of school.