TWIN FALLS, Idaho — The Twin Falls School District announced they will move forward with in person instruction and begin the school year in the "yellow level."
The district's back to school plan will work on a levels system determined by the amount of community spread in Twin Falls.
The four levels are:
- Green: Means it's business as usual for the schools, with in person classes and typical school protocols
- Yellow: Stricter focus on COVID-19 precautions (social distancing etc.)
- Orange: A "hybrid" between online and in person. Half the students would be in-person and the other half would be learning online. It would rotate on an "A" day "B" day type schedule.
- Red: Complete return to distance learning (similar to what we saw this spring)
In the yellow and orange level, the district is requiring everyone to wear face coverings like masks and face shields.
The coverings are only required when social distancing protocols can't be followed, and the district is making exceptions for those with medical conditions or disabilities. Students will also have breaks from the face coverings once per hour.
"Those will be designed by their teachers and building principals to decide how they best fit for the different grade levels and different kinds of students," explained Eva Craner, a Public Information Officer with the district.
The district will provide everyone with three reusable masks, paid for with funding from the CARES act and a levy.
"We know that masks can be expensive," Craner said. "If someone wants to provide their own masks we're open to that, if they want to provide another face-covering we're open to that as well, we just ask whatever face covering it covers the mouth and nose."
