TVUSD Staff Newsletter
Friday, February 5, 2021
Newsletter Topics - NEW UPDATES
- A Message From Superintendent McClay
- Celebrating our Senior Athletes - National Winter Signing Day!
- Black History Month
- Employee Vaccine Resources
- Status of HUBS and Employee Health and Safety Newsletter
- Status of Reopening Plans
- Home INstead INstruction Program
- COVID-19 Employee Resource Website and Human Resources Memos
- Current Positive Case Numbers Reported to TVUSD Within Last 14 Days
- How to Report a Positive Test or Direct Exposure
- Employee Testing Resources
A Message from Superintendent McClay
Dear Colleagues:
As another school week comes to an end, I continue to be thankful, grateful, and in awe of your resiliency and genuine love for our students and each other. Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Superintendent's Council. This group is comprised of staff representing each school site. We spent considerable time discussing our comfort levels, needs, and challenges to returning to on-campus learning. I am always appreciative of the thoughtful and honest insights the council members provide. They take their roles as representatives of their school sites to heart, and I want to assure you that they collectively speak to represent their colleagues’ and students' interests. Below are some of the key takeaways that were shared and discussed:
While the consensus is that comfort levels to return to on-campus learning are positive, there are continuing concerns about vaccine availability, vulnerable populations, and individual staff/family circumstances.
Time is stretched thin for everyone in the current learning environment.
Students need to return to on-campus learning for their academic, social, and emotional health—the logistics, including how, and when are cumbersome and not easily resolved.
Staff would prefer as much notice as possible before returning to on-campus learning.
The pandemic has provided staff with a window into students' home lives that give cause for pause, continued grace, and understanding in the future.
Teaching will never be the same. Technological enhancements will forever be a part of how we teach and learn. TVUSD is now a 1:1 device district, a goal we never thought we could achieve.
Individual and organizational growth opportunities have been discovered despite many adversities during the pandemic. We need to spearhead these now and forge ahead with our new level of knowledge and expertise. We are excited to be launching a Home School program, as well as opportunities for secondary students to have more flexibility and hybrid courses within their schedules.
Most of all, what I continue to hear from so many of you is a heartfelt concern for our students and their futures. You are working harder than ever before, often at the expense of yourselves. I commend you for your selflessness and want to share a statement I came across recently.
Students are not falling behind.
They are surviving a pandemic.
Educators: You are not behind.
You are also surviving a pandemic!
Thank you for every ounce you give!
Keep up the awesome work...take time for yourselves and your families, and please stay healthy.
Warmly,
Jodi McClay, Ed.D.
Let's Celebrate Our Senior Athletes! National Winter Signing Day!
Black History Month
This month, we will observe Valentine's Day, National School Counseling Week, Groundhog Day, Presidents' birthdays, and more. One observance we are incredibly excited to celebrate is Black History Month!
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This week starts a month-long celebration of African American men and women who have made significant contributions to America and the rest of the world. It was founded in 1915 by historian Carter G. Woodson. Today, Black History Month continues the discussion and honoring of African Americans throughout history and today. Black History Month is a time to commemorate and celebrate the contributions, achievements, and impact African Americans have made in our nation. There is much to pay homage to from science, literature, entertainment, sports, technology, and more.
COVID-19 Vaccine Information
We know that accessing the vaccine continues to prove difficult as supplies are limited. They are currently focusing on individuals 75 and over. There are still clinics for education employees being scheduled throughout the county, but they seem limited.
Please know that as an organization, we have begged to be a provider location! We have the knowledge, ability, and staff available to vaccinate all TVUSD employees who want it. Unfortunately, there are licensing requirements, and we cannot be a direct provider of the vaccine. We are continuing to offer our school sites as locations for clinics and work with local hospitals for opportunities to include our staff as a priority.
Here are some tips to assist you as reported by staff successful in receiving the vaccine.
- The county is not providing advance notice of posting updated clinics. It crashes their site when they provide notice, so it's best to check the site frequently. https://www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine
- We recommend you check the local providers' link. This will direct you to Albertson, Vons, Costco, etc. The sign-up process seems to be a bit easier on these sites. https://www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-Vaccine-Providers - Check the links often and at varying times as they will post updates without any notice!
- Call 211. They may have some updated information as it becomes available.
What Employees Need to Show for Verification
- An employee badge or employment verification letter from TVUSD.
- To obtain a TVUSD verification letter, please go to Etrieve, and you can print your form. Or, you can contact your school site or department office for assistance.
- If you have trouble printing your own form, all school site administrative offices have received their employees' pdf files. For departments: All ESS Departments and District Office, Sue O'Connell; All Business Support Services Departments, Dianne Erland; Human Resources, Nancy Mireles and Kathy Sims; Transportation and M&O, Pamela Ankeny.
For individuals who received their first dose at one of the county public health vaccine clinics, automatic emails will be sent when it is time to make an appointment for your second dose. You may make an appointment for a second dose at any location where you can secure a time, including at a doctor, pharmacy, or urgent care clinic. The appointment does not have to be made precisely on the 21-day or 28-day mark. It can occur after, just not before.
Second dose appointment protocols are different depending on where you get your first dose. Please ask at the time you receive your first dose what the second dose protocol is!
- Please note that you must receive the Pfizer second dose if you received the Pfizer vaccine for your first dose. The same is true for the first Moderna vaccine. Check your vaccination card to see which vaccine you received. At the time of making your second appointment, inquire which vaccine is currently available.
Status of General Ed Support Hubs and Special Ed Learning Centers
- EL hubs reopened on Monday, January 25, 2021.
- All other general and special education hubs will reopen on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Scheduled HUBS depend on site identified needs, staffing and will operate based upon local case rates and indicators.
- Updated health and safety protocol guidelines have been developed and distributed to all HUB staff. The protocols will be sent in reminder emails/texts to all HUB employees daily.
Current Reopening Status
- TVUSD is not legally able to open. We remain in the deep purple tier.
- The current Riverside County adjusted case rate is 62.3. We are averaging a steady decline of 15 to 20 cases per week. Two weeks ago, we were above 99.
- Reopening is contingent on 1. The Governor's new plan and metrics which have not been approved by the legislature yet; 2. Advancing into the red tier.
- The Governor's new plan for reopening (if approved) requires that Riverside County has an adjusted case rate of 25 per 100,000 for five days.
- To be eligible for reopening under the Governor's new plan, TVUSD is submitting the required COVID-19 Safety Plan. Negotiations continue with TVEA and CSEA.
- When TVUSD receives approval of the new COVID-19 Safety Plan and Riverside County meets the required 25/100,000, we would reopen initially at the elementary levels, grades TK-5. We are still evaluating options for the secondary grades and will likely offer students/families a choice to return.
- Campuses, processes, and protocols are in place when we are granted the authority to re-open.
Home INStead INstruction Program for the 2021/22 School Year
We are excited to share that TVUSD is developing virtual learning opportunities for TK-12 grade students, beginning in the 2021/22 school year. The goal is to offer families a variety of alternative learning opportunities that best meet students' needs in the 21st Century, Post-Pandemic Education. We are developing various virtual learning opportunities within the Home INstead INstruction initiative for TK-8 students as a new option. At the 9-12 level, we are looking to enhance our current virtual independent student options.
We look forward to sharing more information with you in the coming weeks!
COVID-19 Employee Resource Website and Human Resources Folder
NEW UPDATE - Workplace Occupancy Letter from Human Resources Dated 2/5/21
All memos distributed to employees from Human Resources can be found on the dedicated website or directly via the following Google Folder.
As a reminder, a dedicated website has been created to keep TVUSD staff informed about COVID-19 related resources, processes, and protocols. Please bookmark the following page for future reference https://www.tvusd.k12.ca.us/covidresourcesstaff and check it weekly. All items in this newsletter can be found on the website.
Current Positive Case Numbers Reported in TVUSD
How to Report A Positive Test or Direct Exposure
- There is a process to report positive tests or direct exposures.
- A contact is defined as a person who is within 6 feet from a confirmed case for more than 15 minutes cumulative within 24 hours, regardless of face coverings.
- There are strict timelines associated with reporting and ensuring we respond, so your use of the systems in place will ensure we respond to your needs and meet our requirements.
- DO NOT report to your work location if ill, positive, or you have had direct exposure.
- Call your immediate supervisor.
- Report your absence through the Frontline Absence Management System (if currently required to do so).
- Use the color/photo buttons below to report to Risk Management. TVUSD is contracting with a company called Maxim to assist employees with initial responses and support. PLEASE DO NOT CALL OR EMAIL RISK MANAGEMENT DIRECTLY for reporting purposes.
Click on the appropriate button below and follow the process to connect with a confidential representative who will assist you and expedite the process on your behalf.
Report Direct Exposure To A COVID-19 Positive Individual
Work-Related Medical Restrictions
Questions and/or concerns related to work-related medical restrictions should be directed to Risk Management at (951) 294-6282.
TVUSD Employee Testing Resources
TVUSD's Risk Management Department is currently scheduling optional testing. The goal is to prioritize employees working at the HUB locations initially. Risk Management will be contacting HUB employees for optional participation. All TVUSD employees are eligible to participate if space is available. Please watch your district email for testing notice opportunities from Risk.
There are currently many free testing options, including through the Riverside County Department of Public Health https://gettested.ruhealth.org/home, your healthcare provider, and many drug stores and private labs that may bill your insurance.
Additionally, the City of Temecula maintains a full list of available COVID testing resources. We encourage you to visit their page for available options. https://temeculaca.gov/1384/Local-COVID-19-Testing-Sites.
The City of Murrieta has also posted resources here.
Temecula Valley Unified School District
Email: lboss@tvusd.us
Website: https://www.tvusd.k12.ca.us
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TVUSD