Return to School Health & Safety
Message from Superintendent Vivian Ekchian
Dear Glendale Unified Students, Employees, Families, and Community,
Happy New Year! I hope you had an opportunity to rest and recharge over winter break. We are working diligently to protect the health and safety of our entire Glendale Unified community as we welcome students back to school next week.
The Glendale Unified Board of Education held a special meeting last night to discuss updates to our health and safety protocols in response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. To protect our Glendale Unified community, the following additional protocols will be implemented as we return from winter break on Monday, January 10, and additional details are included below:
- Students and employees are required to receive a negative COVID-19 test prior to returning from winter break.
- Masks must be worn indoors AND outdoors until further notice. Employees must wear upgraded surgical/respirator masks in accordance with LA County Public Health guidelines.
- Isolation and quarantine guidelines have been updated in accordance with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Vaccination continues to be our strongest defense against the spread of COVID-19. We strongly encourage all community members to get vaccinated and receive a booster dose of the vaccine once you are eligible. Visit myturn.ca.gov to find information about upcoming vaccination clinics in our area.
Thank you once again for your continued resilience and support as we work together to keep our community safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Vivian Ekchian, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
COVID-19 Testing
- All students and employees are required to receive a negative result on a COVID-19 test (at-home, rapid, or PCR) prior to returning to school or work from winter break.
- The District has multiple COVID-19 testing opportunities available this week for students and employees (see below for more details).
A self-attestation question will be added to the Ruvna app next week. All students and employees must confirm in Ruvna (or verbally upon entering the building) that they have received a negative COVID-19 test in order to return to school or work.
Individuals who refuse to test will be considered positive cases and required to follow current quarantine guidelines (see section below for more details).
Our regular testing schedule will resume on Monday, January 10, at all school and district facilities.
If you have not previously visited a Glendale Unified testing clinic, save time by completing the testing registration form online before you arrive!
Open to all Glendale Unified Students and Employees!
Walk-In Testing (Rapid and PCR tests available)
Wednesday, January 5 - Friday, January 7
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Location:
Glendale Unified District Office
Drive-Thru PCR Testing (PCR test only*)
Friday, January 7
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
* Rapid tests will be administered to individuals who
have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
Locations:
Crescenta Valley High School
Glendale High School
Hoover High School
Walk-Up Rapid Testing (Rapid test only)
Saturday, January 8
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Locations:
Glendale Unified District Office
Crescenta Valley High School
Glendale High School
Hoover High School
Walk-Up Rapid Testing (Rapid test only)
Sunday, January 9
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location:
Glendale Unified District Office
Note: Drive-thru PCR clinics originally scheduled for Saturday, January 8, have been
changed to walk-up rapid test clinics to ensure all students and employees receive
their test results before school starts on Monday.
Updated Mask Requirements
This week, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) issued a requirement that all school districts provide and require upgraded surgical/respirator masks (such as disposable medical grade or KN-95 masks) for all employees.
KN-95 masks were distributed this week to all school and district sites and will continue to be made available for all employees.
Masks for Students
In accordance with LACDPH guidelines, parents/guardians may determine the level of PPE, including the type of mask, their student wears.
LACDPH recommends all students wear a well-fitting, non-cloth mask of multiple layers of non-woven material with a nose wire (such as a surgical mask). The District will continue to provide disposable surgical masks in adult and child sizes for all students who need one.
Updated Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) has issued new guidelines for isolation and quarantine following a COVID-19 exposure to align with new guidance from the California Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can view the updated guidelines here.
Individuals who are identified as a close contact to a positive case do not have to quarantine if they are fully vaccinated and have received a booster (if eligible) OR if they are fully vaccinated and not yet eligible for a booster. All other individuals – including individuals previously infected with COVID-19 – must quarantine.
All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, previous infection or lack of symptoms, who have tested positive for or been diagnosed with COVID-19 are required to self-isolate and monitor symptoms.
Close contacts who must quarantine and individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 may end quarantine/isolation if they remain symptom-free and receive a negative COVID-19 test after day 5. Individuals who are unable or unwilling to test may end quarantine/isolation after day 10 if they remain symptom-free.
Glendale Unified School District
Email: publicinfo@gusd.net
Website: www.gusd.net
Location: 223 North Jackson Street, Glendale, CA, USA
Phone: 818-241-3111
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GlendaleUSD
Twitter: @GlendaleUSD