The Saugus Union School District (SUSD) voted Tuesday to hold online classes for the beginning of the fall semester. 

In their regular meeting on July 21, the SUSD governing board voted unanimously to move into the fall semester with distance learning, following guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom released last week. 

“Because Los Angeles County remains on the state ‘watch list’, it is recommended that the Saugus Union School District begin the 2020-2021 school year on August 12, 2020 with all of its students participating in a digital only learning program,” read Dr. Colleen Hawkins in the Tuesday meeting. 

This move follows the Sulphur Springs Union School District who voted Monday to start the fall semester online, with a phased approach for reopening when allowed.  

Newsom on Friday only allowed counties to open schools for in-person learning if the county has been off the state “watch list” for two weeks. 

“When LA County meets the 14 consecutive day requirement, it is recommended that the SUSD allow on campus instruction in the Blended Learning Cohort Model and the Saugus Digital Learning Academy (SDLA) model, concurrently, until the County reaches the Stage 4 Recovery level allowing all students to return to campus without restrictions,” Hawkins said. 

See Related: Schools Must Remain Closed Until L.A. County Is Off ‘Watch List’ For Two Weeks 

Counties in the state can be on this “watch list” for one or more of several reasons:

• They have not achieved more than 150 tests per day per 100,000 people
• They have more than 100 cases per 1,000 residents
• They have case positivity rates greater than 8 percent
• They have a 10 percent or more increase in hospitalizations over the past three days
• They have less than 20 percent of ICU beds available
• They have less than 25 percent of ventilators available

As of Tuesday, Los Angeles County remains on the “watch list,” with certain metrics such as hospitalizations reaching all-time highs this week.

Another elementary school district, the Castaic Union School District, voted on July 16 to start the fall semester online. 

The William S. Hart Union School District voted Wednesday, before Newsom’s announcement, to start the fall semester online for the first five weeks, and work toward a “blended” model. 

It is unclear if Los Angeles County will be off the “watch list” by the five-week mark. 

Ed. Note: Devon Miller contributed to this report.

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