By Jondi Gumz
Once eighth grader Brenna Ramar had her temperature checked at the door, she was ready to go to class — after six months of distance learning at home.
Second grade teacher Jennifer Newton is happy to be in the classroom at Baymonte Christian School. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
How does it feel to be back at school?
“A lot better,” she said.
Brenna is among 250 students who returned to the Baymonte Christian School in Scotts Valley after the campus was retrofitted to prevent the spread of the contagious coronavirus, COVID-19.
Desks are spaced out to provide physical distancing. When desks are grouped together in the younger grades, they have plexiglass shields for protection.
Outside is the sanitation station where students can wash their hands. And “BCS” spray-painted dots are ubiquitous outside, showing students how far apart they should be, for physical education or music, or waiting to enter their classroom.
“Parents are really thrilled,” said Baymonte Principal Steve Patterson, who’s been at the school 30 years in that role and now has grandchildren attending.
“Kids are loving being back,” he added.
He said it cost about $25,000 to buy the equipment needed to adapt the campus to county, state and federal guidelines for COVID-19.
Music teacher Elizabeth Barrett teaches a song in the courtyard at Baymonte Christian School in Scotts Valley. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
Everyone had to learn the new rules and routines — like the one-way stairs to minimize contact, the prohibition on parent volunteers in the classroom, and no lockers and no field trips.
Patterson has 30 teachers at the K-8 school and 70 staff in all.
He hired additional teachers to meet the state-mandated student-teacher ratios. In the middle school grades, instead of 24 students, there are 14 to 16.
Three new teachers got job offers after interviews on Zoom. The new science teacher, who taught a sample lesson on Zoom to clinch the job, came from Texas.
A nurse is on staff now, a parent who is an alum, bringing experience working in the Watsonville Community Hospital emergency room.
“She has final authority,” Patterson said, if there’s a question about whether a student should stay home to protect everyone else.
Leslie Rapolla, who became office manager two years ago, was tasked with obtaining vital supplies such as wipes.
“And getting the best price for our budget,” she said.
Baymonte Christian School Principal Steve Patterson in the band room, where partitions were installed as a COVID-19 safety measure, allowing students to practice musical instruments together. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
She said Rachel Hofmann, the vice principal, took the lead on the plexiglass project, and Don Seely, the custodian installed the washing wall, making sure kids short and tall could reach a sink.
Asked how her children reacted, Rapolla said, “My fourth grader asked me, ‘Am I going to be distance learning, Mommy?’ She’s very excited to be here. She’s here, in person, learning with her friends.”
Knowing that parents wanted in-person classes, the Baymonte staff began preparing for the fall following the existing guidelines.
Then the governor introduced a new monitoring system, requiring adjustments.
Then lightning struck Aug. 16, causing fires that burned 86,500 acres and forcing evacuations of Scotts Valley, San Lorenzo Valley and Bonny Doon.
Patterson said 75 percent of the Baymonte families and 80 percent of the staff were evacuated, losing precious time needed to prepare to return to the campus.
Patterson was among them. His daughter in Boulder Creek and her children and her tenant came to Patterson’s house. Then he had to evacuate so they went to their family cabin in Groveland, which had to evacuate due to the Creek fire.
They all ended up in Merced, 13 adults and three dogs.
Despite every obstacle, Baymonte Christian School is teaching children on campus – something of a miracle.
“We’re blessed to be here,” Patterson said. “Prospective families call and say, ‘Tell me you have a seat.’”
His next appointment was with a prospective family.