SACRAMENTO, Calif — While schools in Sacramento County could start in-person learning next week, the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) will not start in-person learning just yet.
However, SCUSD announced Friday they opened six learning hubs at school sites throughout the district to provide small groups of students assistance while distanced learning.
Sacramento City Unified School District and Sacramento City leaders gathered at Sam Brannan Middle School to celebrate the opening of the hubs.
“Today marks the second day of our Sac City Unified Learning Hubs which is something we’ve been looking forward to since we were thrust into the uncertainties that this pandemic has brought,” said Jorge Aguilar, Superintendent of Sac City Unified.
Mayor Darrell Steinberg was also there to commemorate the occasion.
“Lord knows we are living through challenging times,” admitted Steinberg. “But this is a wonderful example of partnership in action.”
Each group is open to 40 students. Students of essential workers, students with special needs, students in the foster care system, and students experiencing homelessness were given priority for this learning opportunity.
The city of Sacramento, the Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center, Centers for Fathers and Families, and Leaders of Tomorrow will staff the learning hubs.
SCUSD Superintendent Jorge Aguilar said distance learning could be difficult for students going to the learning hubs.
“Learning hubs provide a supportive place for students to learn together," Aguilar said. "Having the camaraderie of other students and encouragement from staff will provide much-needed support for vulnerable students."
SCUSD reported in April that several students had fallen through the cracks and the district hopes this program will help students prepare for when school does reopen for in-person learning.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said the city wanted to help in any way it could to make sure students don't fall behind.
“The children, when you really step back and think about it, they’re not children of the district or children of the city,” said Steinberg, “They’re our children.”
Steinberg said the city has invested heavily in helping bridge the distance learning gap.
"We used $1.46 million of our federal stimulus funding to open four learning hubs in City community centers and $1.05 million to provide free internet for low-income families for six months,” Steinberg said.
The students selected for the learning hubs meet daily on the school campus and continue meeting until in-person schools can resume. The staff will help guide students through their day of distance learning and offer activities to break up the school day. Students also will get breakfast and lunch from the Sac City Unified Nutrition Services Department.
Victoria Flores, the director of student support and health services said the health of the students and teachers taking part in the learning hubs is the district’s number one concern.
“Before our students or our staff even come on campus, we’re asking them to really check their temperature, making sure they don’t’ have a fever over 100.4 or any of the symptoms that are listed by the CDC,” explained Flores.
The district will also require face coverings, hand hygiene protocols, and physical distancing. Flores also pointed to the ample signage around the campus and explained how students need to practice what physical distancing feels like. She said it has been a long time since they’ve had to share space with one another.
“As you see on the ground, we’ve got lots of visible signage, our desks are that far apart,” said Flores. “So we really help our students understand all the visual cues of how we can be safely together.”
The district arranged classrooms to accommodate increased physical distancing, and staff should be disinfecting the school sites throughout the day.
Flores also explained operating the hubs requires rethinking the way indoor and outdoor spaces are utilized.
“Doors and windows open, our HVAC is recirculating air,” said Flores. “And the outdoor is really safest. So we’re trying to as many activities outside as we can, including when we eat.”
SCUSD replaced air filters, redirected air to limit air recirculation, and disabled shared water fountains. The schools now have information about health and safety requirements displayed.