Superintendent Update
2020-21 School Year, CSD Superintendent Andews, 7.23.20
Dear Cambrian Families,
It most certainly is a challenging time and the impact this pandemic has on our students is heartbreaking. I am confident that Cambrian School District will continue to provide an exemplary program for our students even during this unprecedented situation. I want to update you on Governor Gavin Newsom’s new guidelines regarding all California K-12 schools reopening with current COVID-19 trends. Cambrian Schools will start on August 19th with 100% distance learning for all students, and slowly transition in stages to a hybrid of in-person instruction and distance learning when approved to do so.
Gov. Newsom requires California schools in counties on the state’s COVID-19 monitoring list to begin the school year with 100% distance learning. According to the state, school facilities may only open in counties that have been off the state’s Monitoring List for 14 consecutive days. Santa Clara County is currently on the Monitoring List and therefore, Cambrian must begin the year in a distance learning model. Cambrian School District must meet strict criteria in order to open school campuses.
There is a provision in the Governor’s guidelines that permits districts to apply for a waiver to bring younger grades on campus even if the district is in a county on the state Monitoring List. SCCPHD’s Dr. Sarah Cody and other county health officers would have the authority to grant the waiver after consulting with the California Department of Public Health. We will still start the school year in distance learning for all students, however, Cambrian will apply for the waiver if necessary in order to bring small groups of students back in our phased approach. We will continue to be vigilant in assessing the safest, most appropriate scenarios moving forward.
Although we will begin the year online, we are continuing to prepare to bring students and staff back to our schools when safe. Our staff is working hard through the summer and we are committed to providing CSD families the most rigorous, engaging curriculum, whether through distance learning or in-person instruction. Over the next few weeks you will receive specific information outlining what the distance learning day and expectations will entail for your child. We are posting on the Cambrian School District Website up-to-date information as it relates to new safety procedures, community resources, distance learning and common questions we receive.
I will also be holding a Welcome Back to the School Year for parents/guardians on Tuesday, August 4th at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. The link to the Zoom event will be sent out to all families and posted on our website. I hope you can attend.
Right now the only constant during this global pandemic is change. I am committed to keeping you apprised as public health data evolves and basing our decisions on guidance from our public health officials. We are taking into account the need for in-person instruction with a safe learning experience for our students, and a healthy working environment for staff.
Thank you for entrusting the Cambrian School District staff as we redesign public education during this pandemic.
We are CAMBRIAN.
CAMBRIAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
Email: klavond@cambriansd.com
Website: www.cambriansd.org
Location: 4115 Jacksol Drive, San Jose, CA, USA
Phone: (408) 377-2103
Facebook: facebook.com/CambrianSchoolDistrict
Twitter: @Supt_Andrews