Diamond View School delays start of year due to COVID-19
Many schools surrounding the Susanville area returned back to the classroom Monday after delays due to the Dixie Fire; however, after some Diamond View School staff tested positive and others are in quarantine for exposure to COVID-19, the start is pushed back until Sept. 7.
“After a thorough review of our staffing shortages due to several staff members testing positive for COVID-19 and/or being placed on quarantine, Diamond View School will be unable to open until Tuesday, Sept. 7, following the Labor Day Holiday. With almost 50 percent of our staff affected and a severe shortage in available substitutes, we cannot open safely at this time,” read a statement from the school district.
“Our current safety protocols for our schools require testing of staff during outbreaks and staff cannot return to the school until completing their quarantine timelines. The safety of our students and our community will remain the highest priority as we navigate through this current situation.”
“We understand the disappointment and frustration this causes- our staff has been eager to get our students back to school and in our classrooms. The entire north state region is suffering from a lack of substitute teachers, a shortfall in qualified staff, and state mandates that make it difficult to work through these situations as we have in the past. The CA Department of Education has not approved the ‘distance learning’ option that was used during the 20-21 school year.”
At this point, McKinley and Meadow View Schools will remain open and operating as planned for the remainder of this week.