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KPBS Midday Edition

San Diego County schools hope more tests can help keep classrooms open

Four-year-old Max Martinez getting tested at the school district COVID-19 Testing Center in Chula Vista, Sept. 20, 2021.
Nicholas McVicker
Four-year-old Max Martinez getting tested at the school district COVID-19 Testing Center in Chula Vista, Sept. 20, 2021.

San Diego County students have started returning to the classroom from winter break this week as COVID cases reach new highs. In response, the San Diego County Office of Education is distributing thousands of coronavirus tests to local school districts and charter schools to help blunt the spread of the virus.

San Diego County Office of Education executive director Bob Mueller joined Midday Edition on Wednesday to talk more about how schools are handling the return to the classroom, and why they are hesitant to return to virtual learning as many local colleges and universities have done.

"The loss to children from in-person learning, is just so significant," Mueller said. "It's just really important that we continue in-person operations as long as we're able to."

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The potential for school staffing shortages, similarly seen in the airline industry and area hospitals, remains a major challenge.

"I think my primary concern is I'm worried that schools may be forced into temporary closures due to staffing shortages," Mueller said.

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