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Dear AUHSD Parents/Guardians:
As we complete our 6th week of distance learning and issue our students' 1st academic progress reports on Monday, I write to update our parent community on our current status and what to expect in the weeks to come.
The public health COVID-19 data in Contra Costa County and our local communities continue to slowly improve. The 7-day averages for new cases per day per 100,000 in the County is approaching the threshold to improve our status in the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The Blueprint shows data for the status of new COVID-19 cases and testing positivity rates by county and provides clear guidance as to what activities may happen in a county at certain data levels. The Blueprint is updated on Tuesdays (but has a 10-day data lag). Contra Costa County is currently at the Purple Tier 1 Widespread Level. It is feasible, if there was not a Labor Day bump, that our data could reach Red Tier 2 Substantial Level in the coming weeks. If a County stays in the Red level for two weeks, districts may consider opening schools in a hybrid model if they can do so within the State public health guidelines. The AUHSD schools would not be able to open for hybrid in the 1st quarter. The Governing Board will discuss our status and planning for the remainder of the 1st semester at their October 7 Board Meeting.
Currently, we are focusing on making our distance learning program the best it can be. We are focusing on engaging students. We are focusing on serving our most at risk students. We received substantial feedback from our students, teachers and parents at the beginning of the month when we issued surveys and met with stakeholders, and are working with staff to bring modifications to our distance learning program delivery to address concerns and growth areas. A summary of the distance learning feedback data can be viewed in the September 2 presentation (pages 12 - 42). This progress will also be discussed at the October 7 Board meeting.
We are also focusing on bringing small cohorts of students on campus with all safety precautions to address student needs with programming consistent with the California Department of Public Health guidance for small groups, a program we can do even while at Purple status. We have begun bringing students on campus for special assessments, and will expand our cohorts to include more and more students. However, we must keep student and staff safety at the forefront of our planning, and the groups will be limited initially. As local COVID-19 data get better, we will be able to expand our cohorts significantly. It is our interest that all students who are interested will have an opportunity to come on campus for additional academic support, social-emotional support, engagement in extracurricular activities, or simply to connect with others.
You will receive information related to the first academic progress reports with the weekly AUHSD Ed Services Update that will be issued Monday.
Take care and stay well.
Sincerely,
John Nickerson
Superintendent
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