January 20, 2021 4:00 a.m.

Roseburg Public Schools has adjusted its reopening plans following new guidance from the Oregon Department of Education.

Superintendent Jared Cordon said a key change announced Tuesday involves the case rate metrics framework, which has been eased to allow more students to return to school. Cordon said under the updated metrics framework, RPS can continue with plans to reopen to full-time, in-person learning for all elementary school students, grades PK-5, next Monday. Cordon said the change allows the district to open these grades if local case rates are below 350 per 100,000 people over the previous two-week period. The latest local case rates, released Tuesday, are 211.1 per 100,000 people in the county.

Cordon said unfortunately local case rates are too high to reopen to secondary students at the same time. Case rates must be below 200 per 100,000 people in order to return secondary students to in-person/hybrid learning. Cordon said the district will begin in-person hybrid learning for grades 6-12 as soon as the metrics threshold is met for secondary students. Oregon Health Authority releases county metrics on Monday afternoons. Cordon said as soon as the metrics are met, the district will plan to open to grades 6-12, the following Monday.

RPS will continue to offer limited in-person instruction opportunities for secondary students. Cordon said those opportunities have been effective in providing “…much- needed” additional support for students.

Cordon said, “Since the beginning of the school year, Roseburg Public Schools has strictly adhered to the state’s mandates and guidance to best protect student and staff health, adjusting our plans as needed”. Cordon said he believes following the path that has been set through the year to manage the adjustments has been “…the safest and most responsible option for our district”.