In-person learning underway at Alsea School District

Elementary students are in the middle of their second week of in-person learning in the Alsea School District, and so far no cases of coronavirus have been identified.

Smoothly as possible.

Some students are already back in the classroom.

In alsea, elementary schoolers are in their second week... and middle schoolers will join them next week.

Kezi 9 news reporter chris lueneburg shows us what they're doing to keep students safe.

Nats nearly two weeks into the school year... the adrenaline hasn't worn off.

"it's crazy.

This is the busiest summer of my career."

Superintendent marc theilman says this 220 student rural district in benton county's coastal range is allowed to open under state guidelines-- and has sunk countless hours and over 200 thousand dollars into coroanvirus precautions-- nat and with no cases identified yet, the community is grateful.

"opening school shouldn't make us heroes, but that's how we are being treated, so i don't know if that's good or bad.

I don't see it as us being heros, just us being prudent."

But making it happen is an every day challenge-- starting at the bus stop.

"we need to do a temp check, basically a screening."

Then-- onto the bus.

"when they arrive at school-- it's time for another temperature check.

Students will stand in lines-- marked for social distance with these marks on the ground."

Once in the classroom-- that's largely where they will stay.

"we try to limit how much their interactions are in other areas of the school."

Lunch and teachers come to them.

"we log all bathroom traffic for kids so we have staffing here."

The district reports that students are largely following the rules-- and staff are learning too.

"it's a plan that's always evolving.

So you try to have a good plan, you want to have a good plan, but you always find ways to make it better."

Theilman says building trust with the community means everyone from students to parents are invested in making this work-- and following the rules.

"just seeing the kids on day one, there was unaticipated joy in thier faces, beaming through their masks."

Tough work for any district-- from the largest, to the smallest.

Reporting in alsea, chris lueneburg