Dear San Marino Unified School District Community,

As you are aware, the San Marino Unified School District has engaged a large cross-section of our school community to participate in a School Reopening Task Force (SRTF).  Many school districts in California have employed a similar strategy in determining possible plans for reopening while struggling through a very long pandemic.  This era of COVID-19 is far from over and we must consider possible alternative means of educating our students.  While we are in the midst of determining what the next school year will look like for our students, we recognize that this crisis is ever-evolving and the flow of information and guidance from state and county agencies changes weekly, if not daily. 

I wanted to share some information with you prior to our presentation to the Board of Education during a Special School Board meeting on Monday, July 13, 2020. This letter is not a reopening plan but rather an introduction to information that will help define our reopening plan.

 

The California Legislature recently approved bills AB 77 and SB 98, which detail expectations of public school districts like ours. The SMUSD is required to follow revised Education Codes that come from these approved bills. Specifically worth noting are the following: 

 

School districts shall offer in-person instruction "to the greatest extent possible" and may offer distance learning. Education Code §43502, 43503, 43504.

Distance learning is allowed in either of the following circumstances:

• On a local educational agency or school-wide level as a result of an order or guidance from a state public health officer or local public health officer.
• On the individual level, for students who are: (1) medically fragile; or (2) would be put at risk; or (3) self-quarantining.  Ed. Code §43503.

There is a strong emphasis on teacher-student engagement in distance learning and distance learning must include daily, live interaction with certificated employees and peers for the purpose of instruction, progress monitoring, and maintaining school connectedness (Ed. Code §43503(b)).

 

As I am sure you are aware, there has been a spike in cases of COVID recently causing Los Angeles County DPH to enact significant restrictions on business and recreational activities. Whether or not this spike causes state or local agencies to keep schools physically closed longer than the current order remains to be seen.  Regardless, student and staff safety remains our highest priority and will continue to dictate our plan for the Fall.  We expect ongoing safety guidelines from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and are awaiting the next bulletin that may provide guidance impacting a possible opening of schools in August.

In the end, we are committed first and foremost to a safe return to school for our students and will work to meet the needs of ALL of our students - including those who will be enrolled in a SMUSD distance learning program.

 

Current trends show that we will be living with COVID-19 for an extended period of time. Our planning must continuously evolve and adapt with changing circumstances. We are at a point in time when our Board of Education must consider recommended instructional plans so that we may move forward for this Fall. In addition to recognizing the hard work of the SRTF, I want to thank our partners with SMTA and CSEA who have been faithfully working with us to negotiate the effects and impacts of the possible approved plans on teachers and staff. 

 

Up to this point, the laws and the guidance being provided by governmental agencies have changed as quickly as we can conclude a day-long discussion or develop a new plan. It's been extremely challenging to provide answers to very basic questions. I apologize for the uncertainty and stress that this causes.

 

It is imperative that we remain focused on our objectives, remain supportive of each other regardless of our differing opinions and feelings, and know that SMUSD always puts student and staff well-being and safety at the forefront of our decision-making process. Given all this background information, the good news is that we are able to share some of our current planning considerations as a guide for our next steps on Monday night.  I hope you are able to tune in at 6:30 p.m.

Be safe and be well,

Dr. Jeff Wilson

Superintendent