BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Bakersfield City School District discussed the costs of returning to school in the Fall amid COVID-19. Members of the Board of Directors got a first-hand look at just how different things may look and what it could cost.
According to the District Board Report, compiled by Mark Luque, in order to reopen schools to students and staff, certain precautions would need to be put in place. Those precautions and costs are as follows:
-Adhering to health monitoring and cleaning/disinfecting protocols
- $45,000 towards putting hand sanitizer for students in every classroom
- $10,000 towards disinfectant wipes for each classroom
- $29,130 for touch thermometers
- $43,875 for electronic disinfectant sprayers
- $2,500 to deep clean a school after a confirmed case
-Hiring staff to implement health and safety protocols
- $894,652 - $1,777,012 for additional custodial staff
- $2,228,725 to ensure at least one school nurse at every school
- $3,815,054 to ensure at least one school LVN in every school
- $509,465-$1,235,457 for additional staff to screen students
-Providing PPE
- $21,000 for gloves for custodial staff (five pairs per day for two custodians per school)
- $94,528 for cloth masks for staff and students
- $20,000 Disposable masks for students who do not bring their own
- $50,000 for plexiglass barriers
- $8,625 for face shields for primary teachers
-Providing transportation and child care
- $18,225 for fog machines and cleaner buses
- $10,000 for hand sanitizer on buses
These costs relating to the cost per month.
These costs would be taken out of the Learning Loss Mitigation funding, as well as CARES Act funding if the district should choose to do so. The board said at this time they still do not know exactly how much funding they will receive from the Learning Loss Mitigation fund.
Luque also laid out four different scenarios that the district could face in the next school year. These costs would mostly affect the first scenario of all students returning to school.
The second scenario would be 50% of students returning on certain days and the other 50% on other days. The third scenario would be 25% of students returning for one day a week. The fourth scenario would be the continuation of virtual learning.
The board said decisions regarding the next school year will need to be made by July 14.
