On Monday, April 19 Riverbank Unified School District students from grades 6 through 12 began their new four-day a week schedule in the classroom. They will continue distance learning every Wednesday for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.

“Since reopening to in person instruction, the school district has not had a case of COVID-19 that can be traced to schools,” said RUSD Superintendent Christine Facella. “The cases that we have encountered have been from outside of school. Regardless of where it is traced to, classrooms have been closed due to positive cases of the virus. We have not traced any cases that are connected to spread at any of our school sites.”

All RUSD campuses have taken precautions required including students wearing masks throughout the day and any necessary safety measures like desk shields on each student’s desk.

Elementary students have been attending five days a week in-person instruction since mid-March.

“Attendance for in-person instruction is good although students with symptoms are asked to stay home until they get a negative test or a note from their physician,” added Facella. “We continue to have students attending virtually.”

There are approximately five weeks remaining of the school year so staff is looking into options for summer school for students. They are also in the planning stages for promotion, graduation and the 2021-22 school year. What that will look like remains to be seen as there are no specifics until those dates get a little bit closer and can be subject to change, according to Facella.