How District 20 in Colorado Springs plans to handle COVID-19 outbreaks

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- With the first day of school for Academy School District 20 just four weeks away, some parents worry about sending their kids back to school amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

D20 announced their plan to return to the classroom on Friday afternoon, allowing for students to return in-person or online.

The district says they'll follow the El Paso County Health Department guidelines for outbreaks, and divide students up into cohorts so it's easier to find out who has come into contact with someone infected with COVID-19.

Emily Jackson, a mom to four students in D20 asked, "what's going to happen if there's an outbreak in a classroom, does the class shut down?"

Allison Cortez, Director of Communication at D20, says if a student or teacher gets sick, that individual will automatically transition to online learning. If two students in one cohort get sick, the whole group transitions with them.

"We keep saying it's not if, it's when. We have to prepare for the worst," Cortez explained.

School closure is recommended if two or more cohorts in one school have tested positive for COVID-19.

Parents like Melissa DeHerrera say having their 2nd and 3rd graders home for e-learning again would be difficult.

"It's hard to get work done when you've got two kids you now have to be a teacher to. You have to manage a household and a full-time job plus you have to pick up a position a full-time teacher as well. It's almost impossible," she said.

Read El Paso County Health's full guideline list for the upcoming school year here.