Updated Information COVID 19
Martinez Unified School District - March 18, 2020
Dear MUSD Community
Hello MUSD Staff Members,
The Martinez Unified Board of Education and I want to say "thank you" to all our staff and our entire community. I have been so proud of how each employee has stepped up to meet the challenges presented. I have been equally proud of our students and parents for their flexibility and patience as we move forward. I am so grateful to our local restaurants helping to feed students, and to our community members and parents volunteering to help in any way possible. Today, I held a video conference with all our principals and each one of them expressed their gratitude and praise for how each staff and school community has responded to meet the needs of students. Together, we are making a difference. Together, we will get through these challenges.
Last night, the California Department of Education released "Guidance for K-12 Schools" (https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/guidance.asp) related to COVID-19. The guidance is specific to three areas:
1. Distance learning
2. Nutrition and meals
3. Supporting families and parents
For the most part, the CDE did not set strict rules or any firm directives for school districts. Ultimately, the CDE is leaving a lot up to the discretion of each school district. The guidance CDE provided is largely based on what school districts should "consider" when looking at the three areas listed above. For example, related to distance learning we should consider the following: special education programs/students, access, equity, etc. Our MUSD leadership team, in collaboration with our employee groups, will continue to reflect on the guidance provided by the CDE and determine the need and timing for any changes.
As you may know, the Governor made comments last night regarding the potential that schools may not reopen this year. I know that created a lot of emotions for our staff, our students, and certainly our parents. As a school district, we want schools open and we want kids back in class as soon as possible, but only when it is safe for them to return.
What does all this mean for MUSD? Like most things in our current world, it means we need to be ready for change and to keep doing the best we can in each moment. MUSD will be holding to our current plans of making sure we focus on a "maintenance of learning" for students during the planned closure dates of March 16th - April 3rd. Our spring beak will still take place from April 6th - April 10th, and that is intended to be a true break from school (distance learning) for staff and students.
Before making any final determinations on our reopening status for April 13th, we will continue to monitor developments including any formal local, state, or federal mandates over the next three weeks. Given how much has changed in the last three days, it is hard to accurately predict what will change in three weeks.
In preparation for the possibility that we may not be able to reopen on the 13th, beginning next week our admin team, in collaboration with our teacher's union, will begin further planning for how to best prepare for a longer duration of distance learning, if that is required. As we get closer to our spring break, we will begin making a more definite decision regarding any change in plans beyond April 13th.
Additional communication, from Director of Student Services, Janelle Eyet, will be coming to our families who have children receiving special education services. The CDE announced they are rapidly building and meeting with a task force to develop guidelines for special education students related to distance learning and school closures.
Deep breaths, we got this! We don't know what the rest of the year looks like just yet, but at least you can plan for what the next few weeks look like. I'll be standing by ready to support the needs of our students, staff, or community, please feel free to contact me as needed.
Sincerely,
CJ Cammack, Superintendent
Martinez Unified School District
Martinez Unified School District
Website: www.martinezusd.net
Location: 921 Susana Street, Martinez, CA, USA
Phone: 925-335-5800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MartinezUnified/
Twitter: @CJMUSD