HCSD Announcement
Important COVID-19 Update - 3/8/2020
Dear HCSD Families,
Thank you, again, for your continued attention to our COVID-19 communication and your flexibility and cooperation.
As we enter into another week of managing the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus, I want to provide you an update on our recent actions and decisions. After our county Superintendent’s meeting on March 6 with the County Health Department and Office of Education, it is clear that the next four weeks will be critical in understanding how COVID-19 is likely to spread and what steps will be necessary to control that spread.
On Thursday, Dr. Scott Morrow of the San Mateo County Health Department published new guidelines providing clear direction to cancel all non-essential large gatherings.
HCSD leadership has spent a great deal of time considering upcoming field trips, events, and assemblies. From now until the end of our scheduled Spring Break (April 14), I have made the decision to suspend day field trips, student dances, schoolwide assemblies and community-wide events such as talent shows, multicultural fairs, and STEAM fairs until further notice. Our overnight field trips are still pending (including Washington DC, Disneyland, and Yosemite) as they are scheduled in May, so we have some lead time in decision-making.
With the support of our educators and Trustees, I will reassess the situation and recommendations at the beginning of April to determine if further cancellations need to continue past Spring Break. This four-week pause will allow us to focus on limiting potential exposure and managing risks, while we see the direction this outbreak takes.
Student performances (such as musicals and concerts) prior to Spring Break will be modified so that students will only perform during the school day to students at the school. We simply want to limit the number of adults who visit our campuses at this time.
Parents will be able to continue volunteering in our classrooms and schools if they meet the following criteria:
Have NOT traveled within the last fourteen (14) days to any of the countries considered “restricted” for transmission of COVID-19 purposes (e.g., China, Japan, South Korea, Iran or Italy).
Do NOT have any signs or symptoms of a respiratory infection (e.g., fever, cough or sore throat).
Have NOT had any contact with someone who has or is under investigation for having COVID-19.
Meetings including school site council, parent group and/or parent group executive board, superintendent coffees, etc., will either be done virtually, held at the District Office, or held at a parent’s home. Principals will coordinate with their parent leaders.
For the time being, Hillsborough Recreation (HREC) after school programs will be allowed to continue as scheduled. An important component of HREC is supporting families with child care and we want to be sure this remains in place. All HREC partners have been notified of the District’s expectations for health and safety during the COVID-19 outbreak. As long as HREC programming continues, it is a parent’s ultimate decision as to whether or not their child participates. Some programs offered through HREC may choose to shut down prior to the District requiring them to do so; the impacts of cancellations are between the parent and HREC.
As a reminder, the District has contracted with an outside cleaning service to assist our hard-working custodial staff during this demanding time. All learning spaces on all campuses are cleaned and disinfected twice a week in the evenings. Additionally, classroom teachers across the district, with the support of site administrators and the Educational Services Director (Matthew Lindner), are developing plans for daily virtual instruction should any or all of HCSD schools need to close.
While some of you may be reading articles such as this one in the NY Times about “the right time” to close schools in a pandemic situation, the status of the COVID-19 outbreak in our community does not rise to the level of school closure at this time. The California Department of Education and California Department of Public Health just released this communication to Superintendents with clear guidance on when schools should consider closing. HCSD has followed each directive suggested based on the current status of spread in our area. All this being said, it is your choice as a parent as to whether you keep your child home from school while it is in session.
If you have general questions about COVID-19 or your family’s health, San Mateo County has developed a COVID-19 Public Call Center that can be reached by dialing 211. This line is open 24/7 and available in multiple languages. You can also text "coronavirus" to 211211 for information and updates.
Please continue to use your site principal as your main point of contact. All site administrators and District staff are deeply involved in the planning and communication of the District’s response and are well prepared to lead us through these uncertain times. We could not have more capable leadership at our schools. Please also refer to the HCSD COVID-19 FAQ for the most up to date information.
In partnership,
Louann Carlomagno, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Hillsborough City School District
Email: news@hcsdk8.org
Website: www.hcsdk8.org
Location: 300 El Cerrito Avenue, Hillsborough, CA, USA
Phone: (650)342-5193
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HillsboroughSchools
Twitter: @HCSD_K8