The questions I have been most frequently asked revolved around campus safety and COVID-related protocols. Regarding campus safety, school districts around the country have examined campus safety as a result of heightened awareness given an increase in school violence and violence in general in our society. Campus safety is much more than security related to external threats. Bullying and other aggressive behaviors have a damaging impact on students' mental health, compromising their wellbeing and sometimes leading to violence.

Regarding COVID, there's great news to report. Riverside County has improved from the High Community Level to the Medium level this week (see the weekly COVID update below in the News section). Depending on the Community Level, we will continue to follow the appropriate CDPH recommended mitigation strategies to stop the spread. Regarding masking, it is optional in our schools based on three primary factors: One, improved conditions in Riverside County related to medically significant disease and hospitalization. Two, the high quality of our indoor air. And three, our multi-layered strategy to provide safe, successful, and full in-person instruction. Learn all about our COVID protocol and mitigation strategies in detail here. Parents can help by keeping their children home if they are ill.

Below are our school community's most frequently asked questions the past couple of weeks followed by my answers. Feel free to send your questions to me here.

Q: What action has Alvord taken to address campus safety?
A: Given increased violence in our society and in schools, we have created an independent Office of School Safety dedicated to coordinating all elements of school safety. In addition to addressing external threats, we have increased social emotional services with multiple tiers of systems of support and interventions to address bullying, aggression, and other inappropriate and targeted behaviors.

Q: Are our schools Closed Campuses?
A: Yes. We operate a "Closed Campus" which means that students are not allowed to leave the school grounds without a parent or guardian (high schools do have lunch privilege programs). Access points are locked externally and the only access to the campus is through the main office. Principals will communicate policies for their school since many of our campuses are physically unique and may have additional closed campus safety guidelines.

Q: Is there additional campus supervision?
A: Yes. All schools have been provided additional staffing for campus supervision.

Q: Is there an anonymous "Tip" line?

A: Yes. We are a member of the WeTip Anonymous Reporting System national network. Schools will provide more details on utilizing the system in the coming week.

Q: How can I contact the Office of School Safety?
A: Email SchoolSafety@alvordschools.org or call 951-509-5048.

Q: How can I learn more about the Office of School Safety?
A: Visit the web site here.

Q: What actions will the Office of School Safety take to establish and maintain safe and secure schools?

A: First and foremost, we are conducting vulnerability assessments at every school. Included in our assessments are the following actions:

• Update safety and security protocols
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current practices related to safety and security
• Evaluate and redevelop plans, procedures, and objectives to facilitate and improve safety and security programs
• Evaluate effectiveness and improve security and surveillance equipment
• Implement procedures and best practices to prevent and deter violence at schools and other district properties

Q: How involved is law enforcement?

A: Very involved. The District works closely with local law enforcement and other emergency preparedness and response teams to evaluate current conditions and implement best practices.

Q: Will there be School Resource Officers (SRO) in 2022-23?
A: Yes. We contract with the Riverside Sheriff’s Department to have an SRO available to Lake Hills and Villegas. Promenade is supported by the Corona Police Department. The remainder of our schools are within Riverside city limits and are overseen by three Riverside Police Department SROs.

Q: How can parents help?

A: School safety is a shared responsibility between schools, parents, and community. It begins by discussing school rules with your child and being clear about your expectations for how your child behaves. Also, please model positive behavior by following school rules while visiting campus to help us maintain order and ensure smooth operations. Including following all parking, visitor, and other safety procedures.

Q: How else can parents help?

A: Support your school's safety initiatives and talk to your child about the following issues:

• Personal safety considerations, drug, and violence prevention issues.
• Monitor social media trends and your child's social media activity
• Teach your children if they "See Something, Say Something."
• Parents too should follow the "See Something, Say Something" principle if they observe their child or anyone else they know acting suspiciously.

Q: Are there new CDPH guidelines for 2022-23?
A: Yes. Find the guidelines on the State's website here.

Q: What COVID prevention safety measures will be taken in 2022-23?
A: We have maintained our air scrubbers and ventilation practices, our routine disinfection practices of all indoor spaces and all high touchpoint surfaces, teaching and reinforcing hand-washing and cough and sneeze etiquette, and using antigen tests to manage students and adults diagnosed with COVID or exposed to COVID. Our COVID Call Center will remain open to manage testing and contact tracing and assist schools and families.

Q: Are volunteers allowed on campus?
A: Yes. Volunteers must not have any symptoms and will be provided a rapid antigen test to ensure they are not carrying the virus.

Q: Can parents walk their children to class?
A: All schools are closed campuses for safety purposes. Your principal will communicate your school's specific campus policy related to entering the campus, particularly for the first day of school.

Q: Will Back to School Night be held in-person?
A: Yes. Principals will communicate plans with parents.

Q: Will there be athletics and after school activities?
A: Yes. Following CDPH and other local public health guidelines.

Q: Will there be COVID-testing?
A: Yes. We will do response testing (students and staff are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive). All testing will again be conducted with take-home rapid antigen tests, which are available to students and employees at their school or worksite.

Q: How can I learn more about 2022-23 COVID testing procedures?
A: Find details here on next steps if your child tests positive or is exposed to an individual who tests positive. You can download this document as a pdf and keep for future reference. It's also posted on each school's and district's web site.

Q: Will families be contacted if their child has been identified as having been in close contact with someone who tested positive?
A: Yes. The COVID Call Center will contact families and explain testing protocol. Tests are available at every school site.

Q: Will the COVID Call Center support schools and parents again this year? A: Yes. Call 951 509 5014 or email covidhelp@alvordschools.org.

Q: What is the policy if a student is diagnosed with COVID-19 ?
A: Stay home and isolate for at least 5 days after the start of symptoms (or after date of first positive test if no symptoms). Please report the positive case (and absence) to the COVID Call Center or complete the on-line form here.

Q: When can a student return to school?
A: Return to school on Day 6 if symptoms are not present and the student tests negative.

Q: What do I do if my student continues to test positive after Day 6?
A: Stay home until a negative test or Day 10, whichever comes first. Students may return after the full 10-day quarantine.

Q: Can a student be on short-term independent study while on quarantine?
A: Yes. If a student tests positive but is not ill, they can be on a short-term independent study contract and stay current with their schoolwork.

Learn more about the program in a webinar from 3 - 4 pm for elementary school students and 4 - 5 pm for middle and high school student. Find the Zoom link in the flyer below.

The first step in the process of signing up for the Home Based Independent Study Program is to provide us notification of your intentions. Please complete the program survey through your ParentSquare account here and you will be contacted by the program administrator.

Register your student following these four steps:

1. Attend the webinar on August 2, or watch the recording on our YouTube channel at your convenience. Or, visit the Home Based Program information web site.
   
   
2. Complete the application form at the following link: https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/13200855
   
   
3. Once your home school administrator receives your application, the approval process will take a few days.
   
   
4. If your student is approved you will be sent, via email, a welcome letter and all class information from the program administrator within 2 business days.

Please direct your questions regarding Alvord's Home Based Program to our Alternative Education Programs Department at homebased@alvordschools.org or call 951-509-6120

You may have received a phone message, text, or email this past week to complete data confirmation. If you need assistance registering for school or confirming your data in Aeries, in-person support is available Monday - Friday from 9 am to 3 pm at the Keller Center, Building C. Located at 10365 Keller Avenue Riverside, CA 92505. Or call, 951 509 5014.

On behalf of the Board of Education, we look forward to welcoming our students and parents back to school this week. We consider it a privilege to serve the Alvord community.

Questions? Let us know how we can help.

In partnership,

Allan Mucerino

When the 2022-23 school year begins this Thursday, August 4, we will begin tracking positive COVID cases again. During the 2021-22 school year, a total of 3,476 students and 470 staff members reported a positive test for COVID-19. Find weekly updates on COVID-19 Data Dashboard here. Cases recorded on the Dashboard are confirmed by Riverside County Public Health officials and remain on the Dashboard for 14 days.

Riverside County Data COVID-19 Community Level
Level: Medium (last week High)

Recommended actions based on current level

Wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines. Get tested if you have symptoms. If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider taking additional precautions.

Weekly Metrics Used to Determine the COVID-19 Community Level

Case Rate per 100,000 population: 329.72 (Last Week 374.61)

New COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population: 9.6 (Last Week 10)

% Staffed inpatient beds in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19: 7.6% (Last Week 7.2%)

This data is as of July 29, 2022, as reported on the State's tracking web site.