1:47 Since COVID-19 positivity rates are down and safety programs have been approved by the county, Santa Barbara Unified School District is ready to re-open elementary schools. The Feb. 23 board meeting for the Santa Barbara Unified School District opened with an optimistic message from Superintendent Hilda Maldonado. “Today, we learned our county’s adjusted case rate has declined to 16 per 100,000 residents and I am happy to recommend that our elementary schools reopen for in-person instruction,” Maldonado said. The School Board voted unanimously to approve hybrid in-person instruction for its elementary schools beginning March first. Families of students in grades TK through six now have the option to join hybrid in-person classes or continue with distance learning.