Superintendent's Newsletter
October 21, 2020
Dear FUSD Community,
We are just about eight weeks into the 2020-2021 school year and I am so grateful for the incredible work of our FUSD staff and students. These have been unlike any other eight weeks of schooling and we couldn’t do it without the support of our parents and guardians as well. When we find success in FUSD, it is most often thanks to the collective work of all the individuals who make up the District, working together, as a community.
The connection between our schools, our school district, and our community is critical. I look forward to building a pattern of transparent and timely communication with our community and our schools. Even though we are only eight weeks into this school year, we are talking about many important topics across FUSD and within the community. For the benefit of all our students, we must continue to engage in meaningful conversations about what is going well, what needs to be improved, and how we are meeting the needs of all students.
The most effective way to accomplish those goals is by working together as a community. I think the appropriate emphasis is on the “unity” of the community. That certainly does not mean that we all have to agree all the time, but to me, it does mean that we are committed to working together. If we are going to work closely together, in unity, while discussing important issues, we need to remain focused on empathy and equity. We must continue to work in FUSD, and within the larger Fremont community, to honor diversity with a sharp focus on addressing racial and social injustice. I invite you to join me in a constant reflection of our thoughts, words, and actions, so that they may support behaviors that unite our schools and our community toward a better and more equitable tomorrow, for our commUNITY.
Distance Learning & Future Return to In-Person Instruction
Thanks to the hard work of our staff and the support of students and the community, FUSD has made great strides this year in putting together a high-quality distance learning program. Understandably, aspects of that program still need continued improvements. Despite these great efforts, nothing replaces the experience of in-person instruction in an immersive school setting. That “pre-pandemic” learning environment is still a long way away. Given the many physical safety protocols, any return to in-person instruction will be very different than a pre-pandemic school experience. However, as Alameda County moves into the Orange Tier of the state’s reopening system, FUSD continues to engage in the development of a comprehensive reopening plan for a return to some form of modified in-person instruction.
Recently, it was communicated that our next conversation about a return to in-person instruction would take place at our November 12th Board of Education meeting. We remain focused on that target and are taking steps to ensure the discussion is meaningful and provides an accurate representation of the many diverse viewpoints on this topic. FUSD is seeking your parent/guardian input on our Distance Learning program, as well as your feelings about a potential return to in-person instruction at some point in the future, when it is safe to do so.
Undoubtedly, for some individuals, the return to in-person instruction will not happen soon enough. For others, the return to in-person instruction may be happening sooner than they feel is appropriate. While there has not been a date set for such a return, we are very much wanting your feedback, as soon as possible. You may click this link to take a short survey for our parents/guardians, Please complete the survey, by Friday, October 30th.
For our FUSD staff, there will be separate opportunities for you to provide your feedback on these topics as well. Please keep your eye out for those moving forward.
Halloween and Día de los Muertos + COVID-19
As we all work together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community, here is some additional guidance from the state of California, on upcoming Halloween events as well as Día de los Muertos (https://covid19.ca.gov/holidays/)
District Events, Information, and Committees
Fremont Unified School District
Website: https://www.fremont.k12.ca.us/
Location: 4210 Technology Drive, Fremont, CA, USA
Phone: 510-659-2542
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USDFremont/
Twitter: @USDFremont