The Menlo Park City School District (MPCSD) plans to have older students return to campuses starting on Oct. 19. They will join the roughly 535 kindergarteners and first graders, who began in-person learning on Monday, Sept. 28.

The district's school board voted unanimously, after an "intense discussion" Oct. 1, to have students in grades two to six to begin in-person learning on Oct. 19, according to a district press release.

Grades seven and eight will follow on Nov. 2, giving the middle school time to bring sixth graders back for a period of adjustment before the rest of the school joins them, the press release states. (Any further return of students depends on San Mateo County remaining in the red or "substantial" risk tier. The county moved out of the most restrictive purple or "widespread" risk tier on Sept. 22.)

Although kindergarteners and first graders attended in-person classes this week, schools are closed today because of the unhealthy air quality, said Parke Treadway, district public information officer. Campuses are closed when the air quality index (AQI) is at or above 150 by 4:00 a.m. or near 150 with a forecast of 150 or above as measured by airnow.gov, according to a report prepared for the Thursday board meeting by staff.

"MPCSD is the first public school district in San Mateo County to open its campuses so broadly and it has been very smooth so far," the press release said. "The district has learned valuable lessons about the staffing, logistics, communication and coordination required to execute a safe and successful return of students while following robust health and safety protocols."

The district will follow a "hybrid model," with some learning remaining online.

The vote came after an original motion to return all students beginning Oct. 12, earlier than even the earliest timeline that Superintendent Erik Burmeister proposed, according to a district press release. The original motion was withdrawn, leading to the unanimous vote to bring students back in three phases.

Many teachers, administrators and parents spoke in favor of the measured approach in the superintendent's recommendations, noting that the logistics of bringing hundreds of students and staff back on campus require much planning, training and communication with all stakeholders prior to the actual opening, according to the district.

The county granted the district a waiver last week to allow kindergarteners and first graders to return to schools. In addition to kindergarteners and first graders, small groups of vulnerable students in all grades have returned to campuses, according to the district.

If a student or staff member tests positive, his or her class will move to distance learning for two weeks, Treadway said.

The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. For more information, go here.