Eureka Mayor Susan Seaman Talks About Moving into the Red Tier

This is a press release from the City of Eureka:

Hello. I’m Mayor Susan Seaman.  As I have mentioned in previous addresses, the City of Eureka is continuing to work tirelessly in support of the health and well-being of our citizens, our community, and our economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This week, Humboldt County moved back into the Red Tier. This is great news for our local businesses, many of which now have the ability to expand their capacity. Some of those changes include:

• Restaurants are now able to open indoors at 25% capacity.
• Gyms and fitness centers can open indoors at 10% capacity, although indoor pools, saunas, and steam rooms will remain closed.
• Movie theaters can open indoors at 25% capacity.
• Bars, breweries, and distilleries remain closed.
• Gatherings remain strongly discouraged, but are allowed with up to three households if everyone is wearing facial coverings and maintaining physical distance of at least 6 feet.

You can find a complete list of guidelines from the California Department of Public Health at https://www.cdph.ca.gov.

Another big change that we’ll see in Eureka on March 1 is a return to in-person instruction at Eureka City Schools for all grade levels. Families now have the option to have their student attend in-person instruction or continue distance learning. This will include Eureka High and Zoe Barnum High School, thanks to the Red Tier status.

As students return to school, regular bus service will not be available and school hours and days will be staggered. Parents will probably spend at least a couple of weeks trying to figure out how to fit transporting their kids with irregular school schedules back into their somewhat regular workday. Employers, please consider providing parents in this situation additional flexibility while they navigate getting everybody back into a workable schedule.

All children will continue to have access to meals, but there will be a few changes to meal distribution to accommodate both in-class students and those who are not in school. Curbside service for Eureka High School will run from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., and Alice Birney, Grant, Lafayette, Washington, and Zane curbside service will run from 11 a.m. to noon.

During the past year, even those of us who do not have kids in school have been reminded of the important role our schools play in the lives of our children. They are not just places for education.  They provide daily stability for working families, physical and social outlets for kids who are growing and learning to function as part of society, food for children who may not have it readily at home, and they serve as a body of watchmen who identify children who may be living in unsafe environments. Our teachers have been superstars throughout this, providing their lessons over video conferencing platforms, but there is no doubt that in-person education is integral to healthy families and healthy communities.

If our goal is to keep our kids in school, it is up to everyone to make sure we’re following the best COVID-19 protocol to prevent outbreaks and keep our educators and students safe. Eureka City Schools has a number of reports on their website, eurekacityschools.org, that outline the protocol and precautions they will be taking to keep students safe. To be most successful, the responsibility for preventing illness and more school shutdowns has to be shared among all of us. If you’re sending your kids to school, make sure they are following strong COVID-19 protocol outside of school, too.

As children, teachers, and staff return to school, people will return with varying feelings, from eager and enthusiastic to cautious and hesitant. Expect some hiccups as educators adapt and as their new environment becomes more stabilized, and as kids readjust to a more organized schedule than they may have had for a while. Be patient and allow for unexpected emotions. If your student is really struggling emotionally, reach out to a school psychologist or behavioral specialist.

Before I go, I would like to mention that last week I attended the North Coast Kiwanis Champion for Children Awards program. We rely a lot on our educators, but children need support from a variety of adults. This event recognized efforts from several individuals, programs, and businesses who have made an impact on the lives of children. I want to say congratulation to Karen Mann, Derek & Cheryl Kingham, Early Literacy Partners Program, Vern’s Furniture, and Dale Warmuth. Among this group are foster parents, club leaders and mentors, teachers of reading, and funders of recreation programs. A common thread among award recipients as they spoke was recognition that the time and money we invest in children when they are young results in healthier, happier adults, and a healthier and happier community.  I encourage every one of us to think about what we can do to be a champion for children in our community.

Again, I’m Mayor Susan Seaman, and I appreciate everybody’s commitment to listening to this message.  Please remember to continue to follow good COVID-19 protocol. Wash your hands, wear a mask, social distance, and avoid social gatherings. Together, we can make sure our businesses and schools stay open. Please be patient with yourself and kind to your neighbors and family. We’ll talk again soon.