Important Updates from EUSD
December 4, 2020
_______________________________________
Updates provided include:
- Current EUSD Status
- Next Steps
- Masks
Dear EUSD Families,
I hope this email finds you well. I know we are all aware of the county, state and national Covid-19 case rates that seem to be continuing to increase. Unfortunately, our cases in the district have demonstrated the same uptick, however, we still have not had any known situations of transmission on a school campus. Please know our district nursing team is in constant communication with public health and we continue to stay abreast of data, trends and recommendations for the safety of our staff and students.
I know families have reached out concerned about district plans with pending increased state restrictions and also with questions about the future. As you may know, yesterday Governor Gavin Newsom issued a regional stay at home order that will impact many businesses and industries in San Diego County for at least three weeks, potentially starting this month. The order is applicable in areas where hospitals’ intensive care unit (ICU) capacity falls below 15%. We received clarification from the San Diego County Office of Education that the Governor’s changes to the stay at home order related to ICU capacity does not impact our current instructional model or in person learning. Schools that are currently open are able to continue to provide in-person instruction on school sites. Because we reopened while the county was in a less restrictive tier, we are able to continue to provide instruction to students on our school sites.
We have been finalizing our plans for more in person learning that will be shared later this month at our Board meeting. We know maximizing in person learning is best for all students and our committees have discussed the importance of timing and safety. Our next phase of reopening will drastically increase in person learning for all students and is being recommended to start after the county returns to the red tier. We believe it is most prudent to follow the recommendations for school openings and that means we cannot be in a time of widespread transmission or the purple tier. Detailed information regarding the instructional model, logistics and timelines will be sent home following our December 15th Board meeting. Additionally, all site principals will be holding Principal Chats to review the particulars at each site. We will also allow families to transition to Cloud Campus once again if they prefer distance learning only.
It is a good time to check your child’s masks! As students grow and play and masks get washed, some are starting to lose their form and fit. Ill fitting masks put students and staff at risk. Please know that if a student is wearing a mask that is constantly falling below the nose or not fitted to the face, we will provide them with one at school. Parents can help by regularly inspecting the mask and checking to see if straps need to be adjusted. Thank you for your help with this!
This certainly is not our typical December and Covid-19 numbers are discouraging. However, we are so fortunate to be in school with our students! Our teachers, principals, staff and PTAs are doing their best to keep the joy in school and reimagine those traditions and events that bring school communities together at all times during the school year. It is never more important to connect with one another than during trying times like these.
Warmly,
Andrée Grey, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Encinitas Union School District
Website: www.eusd.net
Location: 101 South Rancho Santa Fe Road, Encinitas, CA, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EncinitasUSD/