Orange County Board of Ed.: Open Schools, Masks Not Required

The Orange County Board of Education in California has voted for guidelines calling for students to return to schools without social distancing or face masks.

The board does not have the power to order any of Orange County’s 27 school districts to adhere to the guidelines, however, The Orange County Register newspaper noted.

The board endorsed a series of recommendations for schools amid the pandemic including daily temperature checks, regular hand-washing and use of hand sanitizers, the Los Angeles Times said. Board members also called for the nightly disinfection of classrooms, offices and transportation vehicles.

The recommendations were included in a white paper that called remote learning during the pandemic an “utter failure.” The document suggests parents be permitted to send children to another district or charter school if their home district does not reopen, according to the Times.

“Among our greatest responsibilities as adults is our responsibility to model courage and persistence in the face of uncertainty and fear, which is what many families are feeling with the mixed messages and confusion surrounding reopening of schools in the COVID-19 era,” the white paper said.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles and San Diego school districts have announced instruction will be remote only in the fall due to the coronavirus outbreak.

"This announcement represents a significant disappointment for the many thousands of teachers, administrators and support staff, who were looking forward to welcoming students back in August," a joint announcement by the districts reads.