Daily Admin Update
Day 31
Good Morning,
We are currently building several model for our return so that we will be prepared as we do not know what things will look like in September. Once we have formalized ideas and options more I will be sharing them widely.
We had a Board meeting last night. I would like to thank all of you who are serving on the Board, your efforts are so deeply appreciated and thank you to those who joined in on the Zoom call, it was great having you there. We did approve the calendar and it will be uploaded to the web site some time today. It is a pretty typical SDCCS calendar with one major change, we will be starting one week later than we typically do. This accomodation was made with construction in mind and so that we could begin our year in the new building. Our staff is currently planning the move and beginning to get excited about our new space.
I miss you all so much, I greatly look forward to a time when we can all come back together.
Much Love,
Sarah
Other Guidelines Sent From The County
1. It will be safe for schools to return to normal operations when all the following have occurred:
a. The California stay-at-home order has been lifted
b. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county has remained constant or declined for 28 consecutive days
c. The directive to physically distance has been removed d. Limits on group gatherings have been lifted
2. The virus that causes COVID-19 will remain in circulation until a vaccine is developed and widely used.
a. A vaccine is not likely to be in broad use during the next 18 months.
b. During this time, improvements in understanding of the virus and in testing will allow public health officials to act with greater precision when taking steps to slow the rate of infection. Broad stay-at-home orders and long-term school closures are not likely to be needed in the future.
c. A second wave of infections is expected, possibly coinciding with flu season in October or November. This wave will not be as significant as the first but could result in site, district, regional, or countywide school closures for up to four weeks.
d. Short-term closures of single or multiple schools will remain a possibility until a vaccine is widely used.
e. Children and staff with significant health conditions will continue to be especially vulnerable during this time.
f. Teaching and reinforcing prevention behaviors (handwashing and cough/sneeze etiquette) and promoting flu vaccinations will continue to be important strategies in slowing the spread of this and other infectious diseases.
g. Frequent cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces will also be needed throughout this period.
3. Conditions are unlikely to improve quickly enough to allow schools to resume normal operations in the 2019-20 school year.
a. When the stay-at-home order is lifted, limits on group size may still be necessary and are likely to be stepped down in phases.
b. It is unlikely that traditional graduation ceremonies and promotion assemblies will be allowed in early June. Even if permissible, convening groups large during this time frame may still be inadvisable.
4. Deaths from COVID-19 are possible while the virus is in circulation.
a. While the stay-at-home order and/or restrictions on group size are in place, normal community support mechanisms will not be available to assist with grieving.
b. When schools can resume operations, deaths within the school community from COVID-19 will still be possible, especially for children and adults in high-risk categories.
5. The economic impacts of the pandemic will have significant and lasting impacts on schools. a. State tax revenues will fall well below those of previous years with reductions in school funding likely.
b. Job layoffs and business closures will result in higher levels of unemployment, which will contribute to enrollment decline as families move out of San Diego County to more affordable areas of the country.
c. School nutrition programs will be needed by more students and will become a more significant portion of their access to food. Accommodations to provide continued access to meals for children who are ill or required to self-isolate may be necessary until COVID-19 is controlled.
6. School district enrollment will decline at a faster rate than we’ve seen in many areas of the country.
a. Parent demand for enrollment in distance learning programs will increase as many will perceive them as a safer and more stable alternative to classroom-based instruction while COVID-19 is in circulation.
i. Charter schools with well-established distance learning programs may see increased enrollment.
ii. Demand for enrollment in district and charter distance learning programs will also increase each time health officials impose social controls in response to upticks and hotspots.
b. The high cost of housing in the county, coupled with high rates of unemployment will lead to movement out of the county.
7. Student and employee attendance rates will decline in 2020-21.
a. Students and staff with COVID-19, and those who are directly exposed, may miss two or more weeks of school. In larger households, children may be required to miss school for an extended period if the disease affects other members of their family.
b. School staff will become more concerned about COVID-19 symptoms and encourage students and staff with symptoms to stay home.
c. Fear and rumors will also negatively impact student and employee attendance rates.
d. Temporary employees/substitutes may be in more demand as employee absences rise.
8. Student learning outcomes going into the 2020-21 year will be uneven and vary broadly.
a. Almost all students will begin the next year with learning deficits.
b. The most able and advantaged are likely to be better off.
c. The most disadvantaged are likely to suffer learning regression.