From 01/07/22
Dear BUSD Students, Families, and Employees:
During yesterday’s Board Study Session. The Board of Education discussed the following items to add to our current COVID mitigation protocols. We know many students, employees, and parents have questions and concerns about what school will look like this week. We are doing everything we can to address these concerns. We understand many people want an immediate testing mandate, but testing clinics and supplies are extremely limited. We will continue to be creative to address these challenges.
1. Testing for students and staff
a. At Home Rapid Tests – Every K-12 student should have received an at-home rapid test before Friday. It is critical that all students take this test before Monday and contact their school site if the test is positive. If the test is positive you must stay home. Please refer to the message your principal sent to you with instructions on how to report your test results.
b. Testing Clinics – Please see below for next week’s testing clinics that are available to all BUSD students and employees.
Monday, January 10, 2022 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
*please be prepared for a possible wait
John Burroughs High School at the auditorium foyer (the corner of Keystone and Clark)
PCR only (results in about 48 hours)
Wednesday, January 12, 2022 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Burbank High School at the primary entrance to Building 2* (Third Street where it intersects with Burbank Blvd) *note: not the main office
John Burroughs High School at the auditorium foyer (the corner of Keystone and Clark) 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 13, 2022 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Burbank High School at the primary entrance to Building 2* (Third Street where it intersects with Burbank Blvd) *note: not the main office
John Burroughs High School at the auditorium foyer (the corner of Keystone and Clark) 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
c. Testing Mandate - The Board discussed considerations for a testing mandate and gave the following guidance to staff:
The goal is to implement mandatory testing for all students and staff by Monday, January 24th. In the meantime, it is highly encouraged that all students and staff take advantage of the free testing clinics being offered. Students should also use the take home tests.
Currently, testing kits are in short supply, so that may affect the start date of the mandate. Regular updates will be communicated to the community.
Mandated testing will be required where there is a high number of COVID cases in the community (I.e. above 6,000 cases per day in LA County) Click here for LACDPH’s current dashboard.
If there is a shortage in testing kit supply here are the priorities:
Tier I – Students participating in school athletics (this is in accordance with LACDPH mandates) and activities and individuals that must participate in required public meetings (i.e. Board of Education meetings, Local Control Accountability Plan meetings, etc.)
Tier II A – Secure testing supplies/clinics to test before returning to school after Spring Break and long weekends. (Depending on supply shortages, it is not likely testing kits will be available for the MKL Jr. weekend)
Tier II B – Weekly testing for all employees via clinics and a goal to provide all employees with 5 take-home test kits each quarter (depending on availability).
Tier III A – Pre-k through Grade 5 students
Tier III B – Grades 6 – 12
Tier III C – Adult Education students
d. Testing Dashboard – Please click here to see the latest preliminary testing results from our testing clinics
2. Masking
a. All school sites have been provided surgical masks for students (blue disposable masks). The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recommends that all students wear these.
b. In addition, parents have requested when youth size KN95s and N95s become available for students. We are in the process of purchasing these masks. We will provide an update when these are available for students.
c. District staff are going to continue to work with school staff to update masking protocols and to make sure they are enforced each day. We are continuing to revise the masking protocols, you can review the current protocols by clicking here and special education masking protocols by clicking here.
3. COVID vaccine booster
a. Human Resources will begin to collect booster information from all employees.
b. We will schedule panels with medical experts so that our employees and community can learn more about boosters.
c. No booster mandate has been determined at this time. We will continue to consult with medical experts and have conversations with our labor partners to determine if this is the next step that we should take.
4. Communications
a. Principals will be emailing school communities a contact information sheet that identifies school site and District Office personnel who can answer questions and receive concerns based on the topic.
b. Human Resources will be meeting with labor partners to discuss our COVID prevention protocols and our independent learning models.
c. A subcommittee will be created in February to review the District's Social Media Policy and Communication plan
d. A survey will be sent home to Spanish and Armenian native speakers to ask them how they would like to receive translation services at Board meetings.
Thank you for your partnership as we work to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff and work to control the transmission of the highly infectious Omicron variant. The collective action we each take is critical for us to stay healthy and safe.
Please feel free to email re-opening@burbankusd.org if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Matt Hill, Ed.D. (he/him/his)
Superintendent
