Novato Unified School District Superintendent's Weekly Update - December 11, 2020

Novato CA

14 December, 2020

8:30 AM

Description

Press release from the Novato Unified School District: December 11, 2020 En español Dear NUSD Family, As we get closer to our Winter Break, and as COVID-19 conditions change State and County-wide, it is important to focus this week's communication on these changes and our future plans. Topics included in today's update are: Marin County returning to the Purple Tier and varying stay at home orders What does this mean for schools in Phases 1-3 and for schools in Phases 4 and 5? Marin County returning to the Purple Tier and varying stay at home orders On Tuesday, December 8, Marin County moved back into the purple tier, meaning COVID-19 is considered widespread in Marin County. Along with the move to the purple tier, we are impacted by the five Bay Area counties and the City of Berkeley's stay at home order. This order allows for Marin schools that are currently open to remain open and it pauses reopening for schools not currently open. This order will be in place through at least January 4, 2021. Finally, we anticipate the implementation of Governor Newsom's December 3 stay at home order. On December 3, Governor Newsom stated that the Bay Area would likely be impacted by the stay at home order by mid to late December. This order would be in place for a minimum of three weeks making the reopening of additional schools unlikely on January 4. Like the Bay Area County stay at home order, this order also allows for schools that are currently open to remain open and pauses reopening for schools not currently open. All of these differing scenarios allow for schools currently open to remain open. What does this mean for schools in Phases 1-3 and for schools in Phases 4 and 5? The NUSD Re-entry Plan, approved by our Governing Board on October 6, 2020 states: What would pause this return plan? As outlined in the COVID-19 and Reopening In-Person Learning Framework for K-12 Schools in California, 2020-2021 School Year (California's COVID-19 Reopening Plan), if Marin County were to move from the Red Tier back to the Purple Tier, NUSD would be forced to pause the reentry plan. The plan, and accompanying timelines, would remain paused until two weeks after Marin County returned to the Red Tier. However, students who are on campus at the time of Marin County's move to the Purple Tier would remain in the on-campus learning model. Those in distance learning would remain in distance learning. Timelines would be adjusted accordingly. With all of the above in mind, below are our plans for our Flexible In-Person learning program after Winter Break. Phases 1, 2, and 3 – TK-6, Special Day Classes: Our TK-6 and self-contained special day classes (all of our classes currently in hybrid learning) will continue in hybrid learning and will return on January 4, 2021. We are confident that, while COVID-19 is spreading in our community, it is not spreading in our schools. In multiple meetings with our local public health officials this week, the following information has been shared: Schools are not a driver of community transmission. Schools provide stable, structured, supervised and supportive environments, reduce household mixing for childcare and gatherings for socialization supports. A recording of the December 8 meeting with Marin Public Health can be viewed here. The Power Point presentation from that meeting can be found here. Phases 4 and 5 – Grades 7-12: Due to the regulations outlined as a result of Marin County transitioning to the Purple Tier, the varying stay at home orders and our re-entry plan, we will need to pause Phases 4 and 5. The re-entry plan for Phase 4 (grades 7, 8, 9, and 10) and Phase 5 (grades 11 and 12) will be paused for two weeks. New dates for Phases 4 and 5 will be as follows: Phase 4 (Grades 7, 8, 9, and 10) will return on January 19 (1/18 is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day) Phase 5 (Grades 11 and 12) will return on January 25 These dates continue to be subject to many variables we cannot control including the Marin County tier and the varying stay at home orders. Each member or our community plays a key role in the factors that impact our decisions moving forward. Many in our community have let their guards down and it shows in our County-wide and City-wide data. I strongly encourage each and every one of us to follow the guidance of the local stay at home order and to, specifically: Refrain from all gatherings with members of other households, indoors or outdoors. Stay home except as necessary to conduct activities associated with the operation, maintenance, or usage of critical infrastructure. Practice the three W's… Wear a mask, Wash your hand, Watch your distance. Together, our actions make a difference, and impact our future return to hybrid learning plans. Sincerely, Kris Cosca www.nusd.org/COVID This press release was produced by the Novato Unified School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.