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Dear Members of the AUSD Community,

Thank you for submitting your second semester program choice survey to your principal. As of Friday, our virtual academy program will grow for the second semester by about 2,000 students, while the hybrid program will be downsized by that many. But we are still collecting surveys and have not accounted for every student yet. I'll update the numbers next Sunday. Families that are switching to the Virtual Academy report growing concern over the pandemic.

As I had written in my message last week, principals and counselors will now begin the process of scheduling students and assigning staff for the second semester. They will work closely with students, staff and families to minimize any disruption and ensure that students in specialty programs such as Dual Language Immersion (DLI), Special Education (SPED), English Language Arts/English Language Development (ELD), International Baccalaureate (IB), California Partnership Academy (CPA), Career Technical Education (CTE), and other academies and guided college and career pathway programs are able to complete or continue their program regardless of whether they remain in the same program or will be switching from one to the other.

We are providing the second semester choice to ensure our students and their families, as well as our staff, do not have to risk their personal health. Everyone should choose virtual or hybrid based on safety first. Again, we will do everything in our power, given available fiscal, human, and educational resources, to work together and keep everyone on track. The key is flexibility and communication. Thank you in advance for communicating with your school's team.

In anticipation of reopening our schools for in-person instruction, we have prepared our campuses, per state guidelines. At this point in time, the Board of Education will continue to weigh the relative risk of transmission of the Covid-19 disease with learning loss, social isolation, and the overall impact of school closure on students and their families. In the event Riverside County remains in the most restrictive Purple Tier in January when we plan to reopen for in-person instruction for students in the hybrid program on January 19, 2021, we will have no choice but to continue to provide instruction remotely.

The school board can choose to apply for a state waiver for elementary schools to reopen in the hybrid model if the county remains in the most restrictive Purple Tier. Waivers may be granted to school districts that have the support of their families and employee groups and can prove they meet all of the state's social distancing and other safety guidelines. Waivers are not granted for middle schools or high schools. The elementary school waiver has been sought by only one school district in RIverside County, though that district remains closed for in-person instruction as of this date. No RIverside County public school is currently open or has announced plans to reopen any sooner than January, 2021.

I expect we will continue to ease students back onto campuses in small cohorts while COVID-19 poses a significant risk to the health and safety of our students and their families, our employees, and our community. Until the time comes when we welcome our hybrid students back to campus, we will continue to explore and find new ways to better educate and serve our students and their families.

This coming Wednesday, November 11, is Veteran's Day 2020. The Alvord family salutes all of the military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Schools will be closed to pay tribute to these heroes.

Stay healthy. Stay positive. Be well.

In partnership,

Allan Mucerino