This private school in Idaho has reopened. Here’s what the new normal looks like there
Nampa Christian Schools, a private school in Nampa, Idaho, reopened for in-person classes, Superintendent Greg Wiles told CNN.
“We will be taking appropriate action within this modified opening to help keep our faculty, staff, students and families safe,” Wiles said.
Classes resumed on Monday.
The school, which has 730 students from preschool to high school on two campuses, has shortened school days along with passing periods. Gone altogether are assemblies, cafeteria lunches and busing, Wiles said.
About 60% of its students are back for face-to-face instruction, Wiles said. The rest are still learning remotely.
The move comes after Gov. Brad Little said the state had met the criteria for the first stage of reopening. The state’s plan for that stage allowed 90% of businesses to reopen on May 1, as well as places of worship, day cares, organized youth activities and day camps, as long as protocols are followed, including social distancing.
Idaho is among the 47 US states that have ordered or recommended that schools stay closed for the rest of the academic year, but it also allowed individual school districts to make the decision to reopen.
Nampa Christian Schools’ last day of classes for this academic year is May 21, according to the school calendar.
Local health officials have to approve the decision, and the districts must create plans for protecting vulnerable staff members, communicating with parents, disinfection and cleaning, and closure in the event of Covid-19 cases, according to the Idaho Board of Education.
Southwest District Health, the department that oversees the area where Nampa Schools is located, told CNN it issued a letter of endorsement for the school to reopen, along with “several” others, including the Payette School District, Treasure Valley Classical Academy, St. Paul’s, and Bruneau Grandview.
“Our staff help each school walk through criteria outlined by the Idaho State Board of Education and Southwest District Health to ensure they put measures in place to protect the health of their staff and students,” Katrina Williams told CNN in an email. “We review their plans for completeness and issue a letter of endorsement if they meet the current established criteria.”
In neighboring Montana, a few small schools are gearing up to open Thursday, including a one-room and a one-teacher school, as well as a school with about 60 students.
A majority of the Nampa school’s parents, about 60% to 75%, were in favor of coming back, according to a regular survey, Wiles said.
“We are working closely with Southwest District Health to make sure that all of our plans follow CDC school reopening guidelines and we are pleased to have their endorsement of these plans,” Wiles said.
Nampa’s public schools are still closed to in-person instruction and will not reopen for the rest of the academic school year, an employee of Nampa School District told CNN.
Canyon County, where Nampa Christian Schools is located, had 266 confirmed or probable cases of Covid-19 and six deaths as of Wednesday, according to state health department data.
