Superintendent's Newsletter
December 21, 2021
12/21/21 Superintendent's Newsletter | Mensaje del Superintendente | 總監的話
Hello FUSD Staff and Community,
As we begin our winter break, I send each of you my appreciation for all you’ve done to support our students and school community this school year. The holiday season can be hectic, and the COVID-19 pandemic can bring layers of considerations to our choices and may change our plans. But this time of year is still a wonderful opportunity to appreciate loved ones and spread joy. Without question this first half of the year has proved stressful, but even more importantly, thanks to amazing staff across FUSD we have an abundance of examples that it has been successful too!
With the emergence of a new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, we are again reminded how critical it will be during the winter break to remain vigilant and protect the health of you and your loved ones. We have an over the counter testing option for all students and staff which will be made available for pick up January 5th and 6th, please check out those details below.
I wish you all a peaceful close to 2021, and a happy start to 2022.
2022-23 Enrollment Information
Information on transitional kindergarten (TK), kindergarten, sibling priority and other new student enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year is now available at www.fremont.k12.ca.us/enrollment.
If your student is currently attending an FUSD school, there is no need to re-enroll.
At-Home Test Kit Available to All Students and Staff
In response to requests from many in our community to increase access to rapid COVID-19 tests around the winter break, Fremont Unified School District is participating in a program from the California Department of Public Health to provide free at-home test kits to all interested students and staff to use before returning to sites in January 2022 to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Participation in this program is optional, staff and parents/guardians of FUSD students opting in to this program are asked by CDPH to report the results of their tests through an online portal or by phone.
FUSD is hosting two distribution events to allow families and staff to pick up test kits while supplies last:
- Dates: January 5 & 6, 2022
- Time: 10am to 2pm
- Location: FUSD District Office, 4210 Technology Drive
- Note: one test kit will be provided for each FUSD student/staff member as requested - student/staff member does not need to be present
Click here to learn more about these at-home test kits.
Optional testing for FUSD students is available on school days, find more information here.
Free Digital Books & News
All pre-K to grade 12 students in California have unlimited access to digital books and news articles in English and Spanish through January 31, 2022 under a recently launched partnership between the California Department of Education and Renaissance. Downloaded resources will remain available after the close of the program.
To access resources, go to www.myon.com, click on “myON login” and use this account:
School Name: Gift of Literacy
Username: myon
Password: read
myON is compatible with computers, Chromebooks, and tablets, and low-bandwidth and offline reading options.
Click here for resources to help with access to myON.
Town Hall Wrap-Up
Last week Superintendent Cammack hosted town hall sessions to share updates on the support FUSD is offering our students, facilities work around the district, and our financial status. Some highlights:
Middle School Conversion
FUSD is continuing to transition our junior highs (grades 6-7) to middle schools (grades 6-8). The projects reflect each school's unique needs, with a mix of modernization and new construction.
The remaining junior highs - Hopkins, Centerville and Thornton - are now scheduled to welcome 6th grade students for the 2023-24 school year.
View slides 12-25 for more information, with photos of completed work, architectural renderings, and ongoing construction.
Enrollment Trends
Nearly every school district in California is experiencing declining enrollment. This school year, FUSD is at 96.31% of our projected enrollment, with declining enrollment projected by our demographers for the next six years.
However, FUSD considers many factors as we plan for future years, including the upcoming expansion of the transitional kindergarten (TK) eligibility window.
View slides 26-29 for more information.
Financial Overview
In February 2021, the Alameda County Office of Education recommended FUSD identify $17.6 million in budget reductions and revenue enhancements.
After hard work and tough decisions by the Board, staff and community, we made reductions, sought grants, and received one-time funds. This year we have expanded programs, increased staffing, and strategic plans for use of one-time funds.
View slides 30-33 for more information.
Thank you to everyone who attended and to all who submitted questions. Find recordings and the full presentation at www.fremont.k12.ca.us/series.
Winter Break & Return in January
All FUSD schools and offices will be closed December 23 through January 7 for winter break.
If you plan to travel, FUSD encourages you to review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for international and domestic travel. For a quick reference, the California Department of Public Health developed an overview of the recommendations.
FUSD schools and offices will reopen on Monday, January 10, 2022. As a reminder, all students and staff must continue to complete the student COVID-19 screening or self-check for staff every day before entering campus.
Thank you for your continued support as we share the responsibility of keeping students and staff safe.
CJ Cammack
Fremont Unified School District
Website: www.fremont.k12.ca.us
Location: 4210 Technology Drive, Fremont, CA, USA
Phone: 510-657-2350
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USDFremont/
Twitter: @USDFremont