MUSD plans return to full-time, in-person instruction in fall

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Menifee Union School District will offer in-person instruction five days a week in summer school and plans for a full return of in-person instruction next school year.

Those announcements were made at Tuesday’s MUSD board meeting. In addition to welcoming students back full-time in August, MUSD has created a Virtual School for those who wish to remain in distance learning full-time.

The hybrid model of instruction currently being used will be retired at the end of this school year.

“Based on what we know about COVID-19 rates, we plan to return to traditional learning in the fall with health guidelines remaining in place,” said Dr. Jennifer Root, MUSD superintendent.

For those who would like to commit to distance learning on a full-time basis next school year, a Virtual School will be available. Some teachers from within the district will be designated as full-time virtual learning teachers. Students who choose to enroll in the new school will transfer from their current school to Virtual School.

Virtual School will be open to all MUSD students in grades K-8.

“I’m very much in favor of a return to traditional learning, but also that parents will have a choice for their students,” said board member Bob O’Donnell.

“I’m very excited for the students to go back, but as always, making sure we do so safely,” said board member Xavier Padilla. “I also hope we can have more tech employees on campus as we continue elements of virtual learning.”

MUSD students in all grades who chose the hybrid model for the rest of this school year returned to campus two days a week this week. Root reported that 57 percent of MUSD students registered for the hybrid program, while 43 percent chose to stay in distance learning.

District officials described summer school as being a positive option for students who may have suffered a “learning loss” due to the difficult transition during the pandemic.

The first option will offer two different three-week sessions in which students attend school in person four hours a day, five days a week. The second option will be home-based, in which parents work with students in completing handwritten packets with some online support.

The third option will be totally online, with recorded lessons for students to view and some interactive online instruction.