Under a system announced August 28, every county in California is assigned to a tier based on its rate of new cases and positivity percentage. The new system contains four tiers: PURPLE (widespread risk level), RED (substantial risk level), ORANGE (moderate risk level), and YELLOW (minimal risk level). Schools in the purple tier aren't permitted to reopen for in-person instruction, unless they receive a waiver from their local health department for TK-6 grades. Schools can reopen for in-person instruction once their county has been in the red tier for at least two weeks.

A district Superintendent may apply for a waiver from the local health officer to open an elementary school for in-person instruction while the county is still in the purple tier. This waiver is applicable only for grades TK-6, even if the school includes additional grades.

TUSD has written a draft reopening plan and TK-6 elementary waiver and is working to complete the consultation process. The plan and waiver will be on the agenda for the October 6, 2020, Board of Trustees meeting.

According to the California Department of Public Health, school closure may be appropriate when there are multiple cases in multiple cohorts at a school or when at least 5% of the total number of teachers/students/staff are cases within a 14-day period, depending on the size and physical layout of the school.

The local public health officer may also determine school closure is warranted for other reasons, including results from public health investigation or other local epidemiological data.

Schools would typically reopen after 14 days and the the following measures have occurred:

• Cleaning and disinfection
• Public health investigation
• Consultation with the local public health department