October 27, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
On October 13, 2020, the County of Kings met the requirements to move from tier 1 (purple) to tier 2 (red) on the State’s COVID tiered system. Schools within a county that are on tier 2 for fourteen days may open for in-person instruction. Based on the county status, Pioneer is planning for the reopening of its schools to in-person instruction. In doing so, the health and safety of students and staff is the top priority and the district has safety procedures in place that follow state and local health guidelines.
The Governing Board of Pioneer Union Elementary School District has determined the district will open in phases, bringing a few grade levels onto campus over a period of time. The dates set for the return of grade levels are below. *These dates are subject to change if there are safety concerns such as an increase in COVID cases and transmission either on a county-wide basis affecting the county status or within our school community.

Elementary Schools:
*November 2, 2020: TK - 1
*November 16, 2020: Grades 2 & 3
*November 30, 2020: Grades 4 & 5

Middle School
*November 16, 2020: Grade 6
Grade 6 will return using a hybrid model. Students will receive two days of in-person instruction and three days of distance learning each week. This is necessary to reduce the number of students in each class in order to follow state and local health guidelines.

*January 11, 2021: Grades 7 & 8
Seventh and eighth grade will return under a hybrid model in which they will receive in-person instruction two days per week and receive distance learning three days per week. Additionally, their schedule will be blocked so that they will be in one class for a longer period of time, approximately 70 minutes.
Because the district is providing both distance and in-person Instruction based on the Instructional program election parent’s made for their child, your child’s current teacher may change.
Instructional schedules are being finalized and will be communicated to you by your child’s school when they are completed. However, if your child is attending school in-person, school hours will be:

Elementary School:
7:45 - Campus opens
8:05 - First bell
1:15 - Grade K-2 dismissal (when 2nd-grade return)
1:55 - Grade 3-5 dismissal (when grades 3-5 return)
Dismissal times will be staggered to prevent congregating. More information will come from your child’s school.

Middle School:
7:45 - Campus opens
8:05 - First bell
2:25 - Dismissal
Dismissal times will be staggered to prevent congregating. More information will come from your child’s school.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, as we navigate these difficult times and reopen our facilities with the health and safety of our students and staff in mind.