The COVID-19 pandemic — as counterintuitive as it may sound — has made Manteca Unified schools safer.
That’s because investments the district made to battle the spread of COVID will allow schools to better ward off future health concerns long after the passing of Feb. 28 — the date Gov. Gavin Newsom has decided to pull the plug on the 35-month statewide emergency.
“Every response the district took was done for long-range (results),” said MUSD Chief Business and Information Officer Victoria Brunn.
Examples of such decisions include:
*Replacing drinking faucets with water bottle refilling stations to reduce the spread of germs.
*Placing portable hospital grade air purifiers in every classroom.
*Upgrading heating and air conditioning systems that are equipped with more efficient air filtering systems.
*Establishing protocols for all potential emergencies with a staff position response for nothing but emergency preparedness and coordinating on an ongoing basis with local agencies.
Brunn said that all of the measures are effective with reducing not just the spread of COVID as it evolves but also flu and colds as well as cleaning up dirty air caused by wildfires and such.
The strategic goal for long-term upgrades instead of doing one-time pandemic responses has also allowed the district to free up bond funds designated for HVAC replacement to allow other modernization endeavors to take place.
The districtwide K-8 furniture refresh that will take place later this year is also aimed at improving health with more ergonomic seating as well as the ability to create smaller clustering of students to reduce exposure.
Although Newsom may end the statewide emergency 10 days from now, schools will not be effected directly.
That’s because COVID is still a serious concern although it is closer to being in the same category as flu.
That means the schools will still follow COVID protocols when someone becomes ill whether it is a staff member or student.
Those protocols are reflected on the district’s COVID safety plan that is kept up-to-date on the district website. Components include symptom survey, free testing locations, optional mask wearing guidelines, and positive case communication.
COVID has killed more than 250 Manteca-Lathrop residents and 113,000 Californians altogether since March 20, 2 020 when Newsom declared a statewide public health emergency
The district has more vigorous strategies in place to support healthy learning environments empathizing healthy hygiene practices such as handwashing and teaching students to self-monitor for symptoms.
While those are pluses for improving the general overall school health standards beyond COVID, the district is dealing with the lingering negative impact of student learning loss and social-emotional well-being due to the pandemic.
Manteca Unified as of Dec. 31, 2022 has been allocated $115.9 million in federal and state pandemic funds.
Of that $81.9 million has already been received, $64.8 million spent, and $28.1 million encumbered. That leaves $23 million for the district to spend.
Expenditures have included salaries and benefits for the online academy, nurses, the pandemic response staff and paraprofessionals that are helping combat learning loss. Other items include technology needed for distance learning, personal protection equipment, distance learning supplies, sanitizing supplies as well as previously mentioned HVACs, air purification systems and furniture refresh.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@manteacbulletin.coim
