Dear Superintendents and School Leaders,
Specifically, Gov. Newsom said the state will be:
- Requiring boosters for workers in health care and high-risk congregate settings. Those workers will be required to receive a booster by Feb. 1, 2022, and be tested twice weekly in the interim if they are not boosted. There was no announcement of a booster requirement for K-12 employees in regular school settings.
- Expanding testing access for students. To keep California’s kids safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our schools, California will provide one to two rapid tests for every K-12 public school student as kids head back to school from winter break. According to a state press release, the California Department of Public Health "will work with local education and health partners to distribute those test kits as quickly and efficiently as possible.” No additional details have been released on how these tests will be made available to families. The San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) team is in contact with the County of San Diego to understand how families will have access to this voluntary program.
- Expanding testing site hours. To ensure every Californian has access to testing, the state will expand testing site hours for state-operated centers that have reached capacity.
At the press conference, Gov. Newsom referred to a
joint statement issued today by leading education organizations, including the California State Parent Teacher Association; California Teachers Association; California Federation of Teachers; California School Employees Association; SEIU California; Association of California School Administrators; California County Superintendents Educational Services Association; California School Boards Association; and California Charter Schools Association. The statement reads:
"Across California, school communities – students, parents, teachers, staff, administrators and board members together – have worked tirelessly to keep schools both safe and in-person. California schools have been open because of, not despite of, our priority on safety. As we approach the new year, we reaffirm our shared commitment to one another, to our parents and to our students: to keep each other safe and to keep our classrooms open.”
Updated Emergency Temporary Standards
Cal/OSHA’s newly revised emergency temporary standards will require physical distancing for fully vaccinated close contacts.
The Dec. 16 revision to Cal/OSHA emergency temporary standards, which takes effect on Jan. 14, includes some significant changes:
- Employees who have recently recovered from COVID-19 and those who are fully vaccinated are not required to be excluded from the workplace after “close contact” but must wear a face covering and maintain six feet of physical distancing for 14 calendar days following the last date of contact
- Employers are now required to make COVID-19 testing available at no cost and during paid time to employees who were fully vaccinated before the “close contact” with a COVID-19 case occurred, even if they are asymptomatic
- During outbreaks and major outbreaks, employers must now make weekly testing (outbreaks) or twice-weekly testing (major outbreaks) available to asymptomatic fully vaccinated employees in the exposed group
Given the governor's commitment "to keep schools both safe and in-person," it is worth noting that the new physical distancing requirement for employee close contacts who are fully vaccinated or recently recovered from COVID-19 has the potential to further exacerbate school staffing shortages. We have asked the state Safe Schools for All team if this change applies to school employees. SDCOE will engage in advocacy efforts to help the state understand the potential impact of this change on schools.
This is a fluid situation that continues to evolve. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need additional assistance in the meantime.
Sincerely,
Paul
Dr. Paul Gothold
San Diego County Superintendent of Schools
phone: 858-295-6641
