Sutter County Schools Community Update
July 27, 2020
Upcoming Event

SCSOS Board Meeting
August 12, 2020: 5:30 p.m.
Important Information
A Message from Superintendent Tom Reusser
On July 17, 2020, Governor Newsom announced new statewide requirements that public and private schools shall be closed to in-person instruction in counties that are on the state's COVID-19 monitoring list. Below is more information:
School Reopening Requirements
Schools in counties that are on the state’s monitoring list can only provide distance learning when beginning the school year and cannot open for in-person instruction until the county has been removed from that monitoring list for 14 consecutive days.
A map of county status can be found here:
More detail about the new reopening requirements can be found here:
Local Education Agencies in counties that are not on the monitoring list retain discretion to begin the school year in accordance with the instructional models laid out in SB 98 (in-person, distance learning, or hybrid).
County monitoring criteria
The State’s guidance for school reopening considers the same criteria used by CDPH in determining county closure, including things like:
Positivity rates
Transmission rates
Hospital Capacity
ICU capacity
Ventilator availability
More detail on CDPH county monitoring can be found here:
When to Close?
The new guidance recommends that a school consult with their public health official first and create a tiered structure for when a classroom, school, or district should shut down in-person instruction in the event a student or staff person tests positive for COVID-19. The following applies:
A classroom cohort must stop in-person instruction if there is a confirmed case within the cohort
A school must stop in-person instruction if multiple cohorts within the school have confirmed cases or once more than 5% of the school’s population has tested positive
A school district must stop in-person instruction if 25% of their schools are closed within a 14-day period
Under the guidance, schools may typically reopen after 14 days and the following have occurred:
Cleaning and disinfection
Public health investigation
Consultation with the local public health department
A district may typically reopen after 14 days, in consultation with the local health department.
Physical distancing
The updated guidance does not require a 6-foot distancing requirement. Instead, the new guidance refers to "maximum distance, as practicable."
Masks
When schools are providing in-person instruction, the Administration is mandating all staff wear masks, with the following requirements for students:
Grades K-2: strongly encouraged
Grades 3 - 12: required
Students in grades 3-12 who refuse to wear a mask may be referred to distance learning-only instruction. Prior to today, there was no authority for schools to mandate masks for students. Today's guidance will allow local policies to do so. According to the Administration, California is the first state to allow for this mandate.
Staff testing and contact tracing
The Governor's guidance recommends testing for staff every two months, with 50% of staff being tested each month. This is not a requirement and is recommended "as practicable" and based upon testing availability locally (within 30 minute drive or 60 miles).
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has also issued new industry guidance which outlines updated recommendations and requirements for masks, physical distancing, testing, and contact tracing.
That guidance can be found here:
This post is adapted from original work of Barret Snider at Capitol Advisors ( capitoladvisors.org ). Thank you Barret and Capitol Advisors for supporting our schools!
Additional Resources
Guidance Page: CDPH Guidance
School Guidance Document:
Industry guidance page is live:
Childcare also live:
Day Camps:
Education page with QAs:
Sutter County School District Highlights



East Nicolaus High School District
Feather River Academy
 · 
An important message from Mrs. Shelton:
July 17, 2020
Dear Franklin School Families,
Governor Newsom announced today that schools on the monitoring list must begin with distance learning only. Governor Newsom further stated that schools should not open for in person instruction until the county is off the monitoring list for at least two weeks.
What does this mean for Franklin School? This current decision may require us to begin the 2020 -2021 school year with distance learning. As you know, Franklin School has worked effortlessly to create a reopening plan this is safe for schools to attend school in person. However this new mandate changes what we may be able to do.
The staff and I are meeting on Monday July 20 to discuss details and information surrounding this new information. As soon as I know more, I will share with the Franklin School community.
In this very difficult time, please know that there is nothing more important to me than all of you. Your students are my top priority and you have my word that no matter what happens on August 17, your child will feel the love and support from the entire Franklin School staff (They are pretty darn amazing!).
Please stay safe.
Mrs. Shelton
P.S. The theme for next year is Franklin School – Stronger Together. It is definitely the right theme for the current climate!

Meridian Elementary School District
Meridian will not be reopening on July 27 as originally planned. Click on the link to learn more:

Nuestro Elementary School District

Sutter Union High School District
Sutter Union High School has come up with a plan to keep students safe using sensors.

Twin Rivers Charter School
Yuba City Charter School
Yuba City Unified School District
Sutter County Superintendent of Schools | [Website]