ALVORD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
July 12, 2020
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A Message from the Superintendent
Dear Students, Staff, and Families,
On Thursday, July 9, 2020, the Alvord Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the Reopening School Plan for the 2020-21 school year. The decision provides students and their families with the choice between two models:
- Hybrid, a blend of in-person and distance learning with no more than 50% of our students present on campus at any given time; or
- Full Distance, with no in-person instruction, fully remote. The choice is yours. Regardless of the choice families make, students can participate in all extra-curricular activities such as sports, marching band, etc..., when the time comes that those activities become available.
Before deciding, it's important to have a clear understanding of the two options. To help families better understand, I've created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) blog on our Reopening School web page. It is based on questions from our students and their families, and our staff. The remainder of this message will focus on the most frequent of those frequently asked questions. You can read the entire FAQ on our web site here.
If you have not seen the presentation of the plan, watch it below. My team and I present, in detail, all elements of the plan in a question and answer format based on questions from our students, parents, and staff that informed the plan.
The next step for families is to work with their Principal. All families will receive an email from their Principal sometime on Monday with two surveys:
- Survey #1 to select the Full Distance Option; and
- Survey #2 to assess technology needs (device and connectivity)
Families do not need to complete Survey #1 if they intend to attend the Hybrid program. Only complete the survey to choose Full Distance. Hybrid is the default program.
All families are required to complete Survey #2 to ensure every student has a device and is connected to the Internet before school starts.
THE SURVEY IS DUE NO LATER THAN MIDNIGHT, JULY 20.
ALERT. THIS PLAN CAN CHANGE.
This plan is contingent on local health conditions. The Board of Education can determine to modify the plan, in accordance with SB 98, if conditions warrant it, including reverting to 100% distance if necessary.
What is the Hybrid Model?
Students in all grade levels attend school, in-person, twice a week. Students attend either on Monday and Wednesday or on Tuesday and Thursday. Friday is a distance learning day (non-student day on campus). See the TK-5 schedule below and the 6-12 schedule below it.
What do students do on the days they are not present at school?
Students engage in distance learning on the days they are not present at school in-person. Their activities are assigned and guided by their teacher, but are done independently.
How are the Cohort groups going to be determined?
The goal is to divide each school’s student body into two equal cohorts. No more than 50% of students will be on campus per day. Students will be divided by the first letter of their last name. Our 3,250 families with multiple students in Alvord schools will be assigned to the same daily schedule regardless of what schools they attend or if their last name is different from a sibling. The site principals will be in constant contact with students and their families about daily schedules.
How will the needs of students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan be met?
Due to the duration and overarching changes to how we are delivering educational and support services, changes to some students’ IEPs in some cases may be warranted. This ensures that the IEPs account for the local delivery of education as school sites reopen, including contingencies for pivoting in and out of distance learning. In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), it is our purpose to ensure every student has access to their grade-level standards and makes progress in their education.
If I choose the Hybrid Model will I be able to ride the bus to school?
Yes. We will provide bus transportation. Safety precautions include social distancing while waiting, entering, and exiting, entering to the rear of the bus to reduce contact, bus driver wears face covering, sanitizing the bus between pick-up and drop-off, mandatory face covering, siblings sit together whenever practicable, and high expectations for appropriate behavior. Students who violate behavior standards will face disciplinary action.
Will there be staggered start and end times or other strategies to avoid large groups of students congregating?
Yes. Schools will work with their students and families to stagger times for arrival and dismissal, recess and lunch, and other activities to ensure spacing. This may be 5-minute intervals or multiple entrances and exits or other strategies, depending on the facility. Most every campus is unique and will have its own set of procedures.
What is the protocol for suspected COVID-19 cases?
We will follow expert guidelines and procedures to separate and care for staff and/or students with COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, as well as procedures to safely transport anyone who is ill to their home or to a healthcare facility.
How is the school district coordinating with the Riverside County Department of Public Health (RCDPH) regarding a suspected or confirmed COVID-19?
RCDPH will be responsible for working directly with the individual and families for notification and contact tracing. RCDPH will assist us in determining a course of action should a student or staff member test positive for COVID-19, on a case-by-case basis. This may include a quarantine period for some or all students and staff depending on the results of the investigation.
What is the Full Distance Model?
Instruction is fully remote and on-line. Students who choose this model do not attend classes in-person, though they may attend school for activities and events such as athletics, marching band, etc...when those events are allowed. See the Full Distance TK-5 experience followed by the 6-12 student experience below.
What is the Full Distance TK-5 student experience?
Students are assigned to a classroom with an Alvord elementary school teacher who is trained to deliver the distance-learning model. The teacher is not school-site specific, although students remain enrolled in their home school for all other purposes, such as activities, events, announcements, and support services. When traditional school resumes after COVID-19, students remain enrolled at their home school.
What is the Full Distance 6-12 student experience?
Unlike elementary-age students, 6-12 students utilize an on-line learning management system, Edgenuity, for all of their instruction. An Alvord teacher who is trained to support the on-line platform guides and supervises students. The teacher is not school-site specific, although students remain enrolled in their home school for all other purposes, such as activities, events, announcements, and support services. When traditional school resumes after COVID-19, students remain enrolled at their home school.
How can I learn more about the Edgenuity student experience?
Take a tour of the Edgenuity student experience and the educator experience below.
If I choose Full Distance at the beginning of the school year am I able to change my decision later in the school year to return to the classroom?
Due to staffing considerations we ask families to stay with the model chosen until the second progress report on October 30, at which time we will assess the situation. We will reassess again at the semester.
What happens if there is a local order to close school sites, or if the Board of Education determines that due to local public health conditions, school sites will be closed.
All students in the Hybrid model will continue with their assigned teacher 100% on-line. Students in the Full Distance program will remain in the Full Distance program. We will reassess the situation at the second progress report on October 30.
Are face covering mandatory?
Yes. All students will be expected to wear face covering whenever they are not seated at their individual work space. However, differing requirements of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)/Essential Protective Gear (EPG) for differing populations of students (i.e. students with disabilities, students medically fragile and/or immune compromised) will be given consideration on a case-by-case basis. Students who are not able to wear masks for other reasons will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
What safety precautions have been taken?
Depending upon the conditions and the most up to date guidance when school is expected to be opened, multiple layers of preventative measures will be implemented, including, but not limited to the following:
- Hold every student, staff members, and family member to the highest standard of behavior related to safety and wellbeing.
- 5-feet of distancing between all student desks.
- 6-feet of distancing between the teacher's workstation and student desks.
- A clear plexiglass physical barrier between teachers and students.
- Desk shields on all student desks.
- Hand sanitizer in all classrooms, workstations, and all common areas.
- 3-6 feet of distancing between students in all settings, whenever practicable.
- Signage to direct students and remind eveyrone of expected behaviors.
- 6-feet of distancing between adults and adults and adults and students whenever practicable.
- Mandatory face-covering when distancing of 6 feet is not practicable such as in hallways, during breaks and recess, busses, and while entering and exiting the campus.
- Disinfecting every night with the Clorox 360 electrostatic spraying unit. Deep cleaning every Friday.
- Intensify cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing of common touch surfaces daily.
- Maintain effective ventilation in all spaces.
- Implement visual health and wellness checks and temperature checks safely and respectfully, and in accordance with any applicable privacy laws and regulations, for students and staff when entering school and whenever necessary during school.
- Mandate COVID-19 training for staff and set standards for staff hygiene.
- No sharing of supplies, computers, playground equipment, drinking fountains, etc… unless identified as disinfected.
- Bring water bottles to avoid drinking fountains.
- Promote and teach healthy hygiene practices.
- Teach students and families to stay home when ill.
- Frequent communications to encourage parents and students to follow best practices related to hygiene.
- Stagger start and stop times before, during, and after school to avoid large groups congregating in shared spaces. All school sites have different configurations, entrances, exits, etc...and will look different while following all protocols.
- Follow procedures to separate and care for staff and/or students with COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
- Follow procedures to safely transport anyone who is ill to their home or to a healthcare facility.
Where can I learn more about safety precautions and other measures being taken to protect students and staff?
Visit the FAQ on Just School Safety here.
Where can I learn more about athletics?
Visit the FAQ on Just Athletics here.
On behalf of the Board of Education and our team, we recognize how difficult a decision this is for many families. The truth is, both options pale in comparison to what we all expected to happen this coming school year: a return to normal. But until that happens, we will continue to perfect our models of instruction and provide the first class education our families have become accustomed to. We will also closely monitor our students and utilize our Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework to screen and identify students who may need additional support. It's difficult to predict how closing schools have affected our students. But it's likely that many have had adverse experiences since schools closed on March 13. Supportive relationships like those developed in school help children tolerate stress and overcome challenges. We know that and we will not let the distance between us and our students deter us from fostering the kind of positive relationships that support them, help them recover from trauma, and help them build resiliency to cope with future adversities.
In closing, thank you for supporting Alvord Unified School District. Thank you for your input and for your questions too. I've received many emails and have read your social media posts as well. There is no simple solution to a problem as complex as reopening schools in the COVID-19 era. Many students, parents, and staff members are scared of what awaits them when school buildings reopen on August 10. As I stated above early in this message, things can change at a moment's notice. And if and when they do, we will be ready to transition one way or the other. In the meantime, we look forward to your survey responses so we can take the next step in this process. Below is our web site with easy access to information necessary to stay informed. Visit our web site frequently and download the mobile app too to receive all of my notifications and notifications from your Principal.
Stay healthy. Be well.
In partnership,
Allan Mucerino
Mrs. Carolyn Wilson, Board President
TRUSTEE AREA 5
Lake Hills K-5
Promenade K-5
Villegas 6-8
District Office
Ms. Lizeth Vega, Vice President
TRUSTEE AREA 2
Arlanza K-5
Terrace K-5
Norte Vista 9-12
Child Nutrition Services
Dr. Joanna Dorado, Clerk
TRUSTEE AREA 1
La Granada K-5
RMK K-5
Twinhill K-5
Valley View K-5
Loma Vista 6-8
Alternative Ed Center
Mrs. Julie Moreno, Trustee
TRUSTEE AREA 3
Collett K-5
Foothill K-5
Myra Linn K-5
Wells 6-8
La Sierra 9-12
Mr. Robert Schwandt, Trustee
TRUSTEE AREA 4
McAuliffe K-5
Orrenmaa K-5
Stokoe K-5
Arizona 6-8
Alvord High 11-12
Hillcrest 9-12
Dr. Allan Mucerino, Superintendent of Schools
Board Meetings Are Audio-Streamed Via YouTube
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Regular Meeting of the Board of Education, July 16, 2020
Find all agendas past and present here on Agenda On-Line
Board Meetings Are Conducted in Google Meet
We are excited to offer our Summer Academy on July 6 through July 31 from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday. This online learning opportunity will be taught by our own AUSD teachers through Google Classroom, and is available to all students, no need to apply. We are offering both intervention and enrichment opportunities. Students may join the classrooms of their choice. Students will need to join the Google Classroom with their Alvord email.
Does my student have to attend Summer Academy, everyday?
Students may attend Summer Academy classes, as desired. Attendance will not be taken and there is no credit offered for these courses.
How can my student participate in the Summer Academy program?
There is no application necessary, all students are welcome to participate in any of the courses. Google Classroom codes for each course are posted below.
K-5 ACADEMIC JULY 6 - JULY 31
Tuesday and Thursday
- Kindergarten: dc5ajj5
- Grade 1: cyeakww
- Grade 2: jv7ftfj
- Grade 3: 3obexlf
- Grade 4: uaawhga
- Grade 5: xxzutjy
- Special Education Supports
- K-2nd: dwgjva5
- 3rd – 5th: zbipyxc
K-5 ENRICHMENT JULY 6 - JULY 31
Monday and Wednesday
- Dance: w5bp315
- Language: vrwaiwq
- Music: giabvos
- Visual Arts: h2ivuqc
6-8 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS/MATH JULY 6 - JULY 31
Monday - Thursday
- Grade 6: ELA-arrazzf
- Grade 6:MATH-pvssncl
- Grade 7: ELA-hgpkwhc
- Grade 7: MATH-i44m3lt
- Grade 8: ELA-k4e5rl3
- Grade 8:MATH-wgotoxw
9-12 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS JULY 6 - JULY 31
Monday - Thursday
- Grade 9: ELA-sbfcbmn
- Grade 10: ELA-7mukn4k
- Grade 11/12: ELA-q44euuk
INTEGRATED MATH 1, 2, 3 - JULY 6 - JULY 31
Monday - Thursday
- Integrated Math 1: uayagza
- Integrated Math 2: amveopd
- Integrated Math 3: hfu5j4h
VISIT OUR WEB SITE REGULARLY ALL SUMMER
DOWNLOAD THE MOBILE APP YET?
REGISTER HERE FOR A HS DIPLOMA OR GED AND MORE
Alvord Unified School District
Email: 2Superintendent@alvordschools.org
Website: https://www.alvordschools.org
Location: 9 Kpc Parkway, Corona, CA 92879, USA
Phone: 951) 509-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/alvordunified
Twitter: @AlvordUnified