District 49 opts to start school year remotely, plans staggered start to in-person learning in September

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Schools in Falcon District 49 will officially be starting the upcoming school year remotely.

According to the announcement on the district's Facebook page, the plan is for students to return to campus after Labor Day, but not all at once.

District leaders say they plan on doing a staggered start to in-person learning - starting with students kindergarten through second grade returning to campuses on September 8.

Grades third through fifth will return on September 14, followed by other grades returning later on in the semester.

"We have to count on our community to bring community rates down," says Peter Hilts, Chief Education Officer for District 49. "Social and physical distancing makes a difference, masking makes a difference, being really vigilant about personal hygiene."

The latest statistics from the El Paso county Health Department show we’ve been well over the state health department’s "high" benchmark of 100 cases per 100,000.

Unfortunately, we’ve remained in that position since early July.

Leaders at District 49 say extending virtual learning past Labor Day still isn't out of the question.

“We are asking our entire community - our parents, our teachers as well - to continue to be realistic about the dynamics in El Paso County," says Hilts. "So that means all of our plans are subject to future conditions.”

So far, District 49 and District 11 are starting the upcoming school year remotely.

The largest school district in our region, Academy District 20, is still planning for their elementary-aged students to return to in-person learning on August 24, though district leaders say that is subject to change at any time.