Douglas County teachers react to new school metrics

Douglas county elementary schools can now reopen for in-person learning... under the new school guidance governor kate brown announced friday.

But some teachers say they still have concerns.... kezi 9 news reporter evita garza shows us why they still have mixed feelings about the changes.

5th grade teacher camron pope tells me he never thought his students would return to eastwood elementary?in person.

But now they can under governor brown new school guidance& and pope says he still has mixed feelings.

00:12 cameron pope, teacher, eastwood elementary school: this is a very real pandemic.

It is still happening.

It is not going away anytime soon?

Under the plan& douglas county qualifies for the?on-site and distance learnin?

Phase, which means the county only has between 50 to 100 cases per 100 thousand people.

As of last week, the county reported just over 60.

00:31 evita: despite his concerns, pope says he is confident his students and fellow teachers can keep the virus out of schools& based on how well kindergarten through 3rd grade has done so far??i just think at this point having students is more of a benefit than the risks of the virus?

Pope says roseburg public schools have been using the cohort program with their in-person kindergarten through 3rd graders.

That when the students are split in to smaller groups to minimize spread.

Kate mclaughlin, the superintendent at the south umpqua school district says theye had four cases so far.

But they use the cohort model too --- and it works.

Phoner: theres been zero spread among our teachers and students.

That tells us our safety measures are working?

Pope says roseburg public schools hopes to bring 4th through sixth back by mid- november& and he couldn be more exicted.?i looking forward to getting those kids back in, building those really great relationships with my students?

In roseburg evita