Citrus College is preparing for an incremental return of classes and employees to campus in accordance with the college’s reopening plan, but Gov. Gavin Newsom’s guidance could change that.
“It seems like this reopening plan was perfect about two hours ago, and now it seems to be changing,” Director of Human Resources Robert Sammis said at the Board of Trustees meeting on April 6. “It’s still a viable document, at least for the next couple of weeks.”
California is ready to open back up to “business as usual” on June 15, Newsom said April 6 in a press conference covered by the LA Times.
Sammis also said a new COVID-19 strain known as the “double mutant” variant could affect Citrus’ plans to reopen. If California’s guidance changes overnight, the college is ready to adapt.
The reopening plan has four different levels based on the community spread of the virus. As of right now, Los Angeles County is in the orange/moderate tier.
“I am pleased to report that since conditions are improving in the state and, in particular, Los Angeles County, the college will begin to slowly and safely bring a limited number of academic programs and employees back to campus in the coming months,” Superintendent/President Dr. Geraldine Perri said in an email sent out to Citrus College colleagues on April 6.
The Citrus College COVID-19 Reopening Plan said the programs that could be reintroduced to campus under the orange tier are music, theater, photography, ceramics and kinesiology academic classes.
The reopening plan within the orange tier states it would permit instruction on campus limited to no more than 50% capacity of a classroom or facility, with a maximum of 200 people for both summer and fall semesters.
“We will be phasing in a return of some classes and essential employees to campus on an incremental basis,” Perri said. “However, most classes and support services will continue in a remote/online format for the summer and fall 2021 terms.”
Following the purple tier guidelines for the spring semester, the college is allowing health sciences and automotive labs on campus in addition to a limited number of athletic and art students. Essential workers such as bookstore employees remain on campus.
The college’s current reopening plan dictates an incrementally increasing capacity. The campus will remain closed to the public and most employees will continue to work remotely.
Sammis said that as long as safety protocols such as masks and social distancing are in place, the campus won’t look like a “normal operation” like it did before.
