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OAUSD Updates 5-10-21

1. Student & Community Vaccination Clinics

The Sonoma County Department of Public Health is urging students 16 years of age and older, as well as their families, to get vaccinated at a local vaccination clinic. Information on where and when these clinics are being held and how to sign up is available here.

Of the many benefits for vaccinating students, one important benefit is that vaccinated individuals do not need to quarantine if exposed to a COVID-positive person. Also, students will be able to hang out with friends who are vaccinated without the need to mask or socially distance.

Looking ahead, we anticipate the vaccine will also be available to anyone 12 years of age and older within the next couple of weeks. Once this is confirmed, County Health officials, in partnership with SCOE, will host a webinar for parents and the community to provide information, address concerns, and answer questions. More information on the date and time of the webinar will be shared when confirmed.

Sonoma County Public Health officials are pleased to share that we have made excellent progress toward vaccinating a large portion of the adult population. More than 50% of adults in Sonoma County have been fully vaccinated. Another 18% of adults have completed one dose. The county goal is 70% of Sonoma County’s adult population to be fully vaccinated by May 15. We continue to promote vaccines for public health and safety.

2. Change in Quarantine Requirements for Vaccinated Staff

Cal/OSHA has partially updated its COVID-19 guidance for schools in relation to quarantine requirements for staff who have been exposed to COVID-19 but are fully vaccinated. Now, in accordance with CDC and CDPH guidelines for fully-vaccinated persons, Cal/OSHA states: "Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic. Following a known exposure at work, fully vaccinated workers do not need to quarantine if asymptomatic."

CDPH has also updated its Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People to clarify that exposed, asymptomatic, fully vaccinated workers do NOT need to be excluded from the workplace. Because of Executive Order N-84-20, CDPH guidance supersedes the Cal/OSHA standards on this specific point.

The state also expects that Cal/OSHA will issue draft language for their new regulations as early as this Friday. The goal is to try to get new regulations into effect by the June 15th Blueprint deadline.

3. Youth Sports & Shared Playground Equipment

Please note that once Sonoma County moves into the Yellow Tier (perhaps as soon as May 12), it is no longer necessary to clean playground equipment between uses. Sites will still need to clean equipment at the end of each day, but not between student groups during the day.

4. Quarantine for Siblings of Exposed Students

The County Health medical team discussed whether siblings of a child who is quarantined for being a close contact to a COVID-19 case-patient need to be quarantined as well if they cannot be kept apart. The decision was NO, you do not have to quarantine the non-exposed sibling unless the child who was a close contact develops symptoms. If the exposed child develops symptoms, then the sibling would need to quarantine and test.

5. Travel Guidance

We have received questions regarding travel and quarantine post-travel. Per the CDC and CDPH, fully vaccinated persons do not need to test or quarantine after domestic travel. They are advised to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and isolate and get tested if they develop symptoms. Individuals do NOT need to get tested or self-quarantine if they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 3 months.

For unvaccinated individuals, CDC and CDPH recommend delaying travel until a person is fully vaccinated. CDPH guidelines for non-essential travel by (not fully) unvaccinated persons states the following for unvaccinated individuals:

  1. Except in connection with essential travel, Californians should avoid non-essential travel outside of California, to other states or countries unless they are fully vaccinated.This reduces the risk that new sources of infection and new virus strains could be introduced to California.

  2. Non-essential travelers from other states or countries, are strongly discouraged from entering California, and should adhere to the quarantine procedures set forth below.

  3. Non-essential travelers who are not fully vaccinated should get tested with a viral test 1-3 days before travel, and get tested 3-5 days upon arrival to their destination. They should stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if their test is negative.

  4. Non-essential travelers who are not fully vaccinated and don't get tested should stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel."

For international travel, please see this CDC guidance.

District Progress Towards Reopening - ONE Question and Answer

Please take a moment to read the March 26, 2021 Reopening Update:

QUESTION 1: Now that the guidance on physical distancing has changed from 6 ft to 3 ft, will all students return to school simultaneously on April 12th? 

ANSWER 1: Changing Guidance on Physical Distancing:  You have probably heard by now that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended reducing the required social distancing requirement between students in elementary schools from 6ft to 3ft to enable schools eventually to reopen more fully.  At the beginning of this week, the California Department of Public  Health (CDPH) concurred with this recommendation.  However, with Sonoma County just emerging from the purple tier, last Friday we were told to expect the 6’ distancing requirement to remain in place for Sonoma County (thereby requiring the hybrid) through the end of this school year.   Although we were not expecting the Sonoma County Public Health Department to adjust its guidance so soon, late Tuesday, districts were informed that Sonoma County Public Health also decided to revise their recommended social distancing guidance between students from 6’ to 3’ in elementary schools.  

The new guidance only changed the social distancing requirement for students.  Student chairs can now be 3ft apart rather than 6ft which allows us to put more students and desks in each classroom.  The distance between the teachers to students is still 6ft.  All people on campus will still be required to wear masks and observe all of the other safety protocols per our Covid Safety Plan.  We will need to change only the aspects of the safety plan that address the social distancing of students in the classroom.  All other components of the plan will remain intact.

Our leadership team met on Monday morning to discuss this change in guidance, options, and possible next steps for our planning. District and site administrators also met with both bargaining teams on Tuesday and Wednesday this week and there was consensus that more time to prepare is needed in order to pivot to a full time return of all students back on campus at the same time. With spring break next week, there simply is not enough time for us to complete it all in order to welcome students back simultaneously to begin on April 12th. Keeping students at the forefront, we do not want delay reopening beyond April 12th. Furthermore, we need to ensure that we reopen in a timely fashion as to not incur any additional loss of funding.

Please be patient with us as we work to respond to this monumental and unexpected change in guidance.  There are numerous complexities required for the planning for both families and the district that require a little time.  Parents would need time and opportunity to adjust childcare arrangements.  The district would need to adjust staffing, invest in another facilities overhaul, and amend many complex schedules related to busing, childcare, etc. 

Consequently, while all students began the year with their current teacher, on April 12th we will separate students into hybrid on-campus and distance learning. Some students will inherently receive a new teacher. To make any additional changes to the model and to pivot again, possibly assigning students to a third teacher, is simply not in the best interest of students. With only 7 weeks left in this school, we are trying to build in as much consistency as possible.

We will begin after spring break in the am/pm hybrid as planned.  This will enable us to become comfortable with our safety protocols with approximately half the student body at one time before reopening more fully.  Please be sure to open the email you receive each morning to answer the question and submit the CrisisGo Covid Symptom Check for your child(ren) each day they will be on campus. 

FAll 2021 Return to On-Campus Learning Taskforce

We are planning to welcome all students back to campus for a full return in fall of 2021-2022. Please look for information regarding a Fall 2021 Return to On-Campus Learning Taskforce.

Stay safe and enjoy the break!

 

Reopening Resources

  1. Sonoma County Dashboard - COVID-19 Case Data (Current Data) 
  2. OAUSD 2020-2021 Reopening Plan (Jul. 23, 2020)
  3. Board Resolution 755 - Reopening Criteria (Approved February 25, 2021)
  4. OAUSD CSP (Approved March 12, 2021)

Optional Resources:

  1. CA Dept of Public Health Reopening In-Person Guidance (Jan. 14, 2021)
  2. Sonoma County roadmap to Reopening – Case Data (current data - Feb. 16, 2021)
  3. CDC Plan to Reopen K-12 Schools (Feb. 12, 2021)
  4. SCOE School Staff Vaccination Program (began Feb. 8, 2021)

State Resources:

  1. Gov. Newsom Announcement on Agreement on SB 86, March 1, 2021.
  2. Text of Senate Bill 86, March 4, 2021.

  3. Safe Schools for All Hub,  Jan. 14, 2021.

  4. Guidance for Schools in California, CDPH, Jan. 14, 2021.

  5. Statement from governor’s office, Dec. 30, 2020.

  6. Summary: California’s Safe School for All Plan, CDPH, Dec. 2020

  7. Rationale: California’s Safe School for All Plan, CDPH, Dec. 2020

  8. Evidence Summary: TK-6 Schools and COVID-19 Transmission, Dec. 2020.

CDC Resources:

  1. Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools Through Phased Mitigation, Feb. 26, 2021
  2. Science Brief: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Schools, Updated Feb.12, 2021.

  

District Progress Towards Reopening - FOUR Questions and Answers

Please take a moment to read the March 15, 2021 Reopening Update:

QUESTION 1: Sonoma County is now in the Red Tier. When will Old Adobe Schools open?

ANSWER 1: Special Education Small Cohorts will open on March 22nd and all other students Tk-6, will return on April 12th.  

  1. Sonoma County moved into the less restrictive red tier effective Sunday, March 14. This change is a result of the state’s decision to adjust the minimum case rate requirement for transition to red from 7 to 10 per 100,000 once California finished administering 2 million vaccine doses in the state's 400 zip codes that have been most disproportionately impacted by the virus.
  2. The Red Tier means that all schools, regardless of grade level, are eligible to reopen as long as they have posted their COVID-19 Safety Plan publicly for at least 5 days.
  3. You can read more about the change in the California Department of Public Health's Press release. 
  4. On March 22nd OAUSD will welcome back two small special education cohorts onto the Miwok Valley Elementary School campus. Our teachers and staff have been working and planning to welcome these students back. The two cohorts will serve students who have been previously identified using a District developed needs rubric. The classes are our identified students in grades K-2 and 3-4. Students will be on campus from about 8:30 am until 12:00 pm. When the cohorts begin, all of the safety precautions outlined in the Cohort Site Plan and our Covid Safety Plan or CSP will be in place. Consistent with these plans and guidelines all of the District’s precautions and protocols will be communicated with staff and staff will be trained prior to the first day of class. We are excited to have the opportunity to prioritize these students’ safe return.

QUESTION 2: Is there an update on the OAUSD CSP?

ANSWER 2: The OAUSD CSP was approved on Friday, March 12th.

  1. After a few revisions in consultation with the Sonoma County Department of Health Services (DHS) the OAUSD CAL/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Program (CPP), COVID-19 Safety Plan (CSP) and the COVID-19 School Guidance Checklist all meet the state guidelines for a safe school reopening and have been approved. 

OAUSD CSP (approved 3/12/21) (SPANISH COMING SOON!)

QUESTION 3: I am hearing a lot about the CDC’s masking guidance for people who are fully vaccinated. Will this signal changes to our practices or policies in our schools?

ANSWER 3: You may have seen new CDC guidance for fully vaccinated individuals, which allows fully vaccinated individuals not to wear masks around others who are also fully vaccinated. However, please note: the CDC guidance  is advisory only and does not override state guidance.

  1. At this time, employees in California are required to wear a face covering when they are indoors at work, unless an exemption applies (see CDPH Guidance here). The State order would need to be revised to add any additional exceptions; for example, for fully vaccinated individuals.
  2. Furthermore, “The CDC recommends wearing a mask even after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself and others. Experts are studying whether getting the vaccine will prevent you from spreading the virus to other people, even if you don’t get sick yourself. It’s important for everyone to continue using all the tools available to help stop this pandemic as we learn more about how COVID-19 vaccines work in real-world conditions.” https://covid19.ca.gov/masks-and-ppe/
  3. Our policies in the Old Adobe School District remain unchanged. All persons are required to wear a face mask while in our facilities.

QUESTION 4: Will my child be able to remain with his or her teacher when we pivot to on-campus hybrid learning?

ANSWER 4: There is no guarantee that a student will be able to remain with his or her current teacher.

  1. Student stable groupings will be formed to: 
  • build balanced groups for optimal learning
  • consider student needs and available supports
  • account for family needs (prioritizing siblings)
  • meet the demands or constraints regarding staffing 
  1. Parents and families will be asked to give input on preference for AM/PM but it is not a choice and will not be guaranteed.
  2. Stable groups will be formed after site specific meetings and survey results are analyzed. After input has been taken and stable groups have been formed, students will not be allowed to switch/change cohorts/stable groups.

Reopening Resources

  1. Sonoma County Dashboard - COVID-19 Case Data (Current Data) 
  2. OAUSD 2020-2021 Reopening Plan (Jul. 23, 2020)
  3. Board Resolution 755 - Reopening Criteria (Approved February 25, 2021)
  4. OAUSD CSP (Approved March 12, 2021)

Optional Resources:

  1. CA Dept of Public Health Reopening In-Person Guidance (Jan. 14, 2021)
  2. Sonoma County roadmap to Reopening – Case Data (current data - Feb. 16, 2021)
  3. CDC Plan to Reopen K-12 Schools (Feb. 12, 2021)
  4. SCOE School Staff Vaccination Program (began Feb. 8, 2021)

State Resources:

  1. Gov. Newsom Announcement on Agreement on SB 86, March 1, 2021.
  2. Text of Senate Bill 86, March 4, 2021.

  3. Safe Schools for All Hub,  Jan. 14, 2021.

  4. Guidance for Schools in California, CDPH, Jan. 14, 2021.

  5. Statement from governor’s office, Dec. 30, 2020.

  6. Summary: California’s Safe School for All Plan, CDPH, Dec. 2020

  7. Rationale: California’s Safe School for All Plan, CDPH, Dec. 2020

  8. Evidence Summary: TK-6 Schools and COVID-19 Transmission, Dec. 2020.

CDC Resources:

  1. Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools Through Phased Mitigation, Feb. 26, 2021
  2. Science Brief: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Schools, Updated Feb.12, 2021.

 

 

 

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***February 22, 2021 Reopening Update

District Progress Towards Reopening - Three Questions and Answers

Happy Monday Old Adobe School District Community! 

QUESTION 1: When OAUSD returns to on-campus hybrid learning, which grade levels will come back to school? Can you tell us more about the classes or cohorts?

ANSWER 1: We will continue to serve all grades Preschool and TK- 6 grades during hybrid on-campus learning.  

  1. We will try our best to keep as many students in their class with their same teacher and peers if at all possible, understanding that continuity is important. however, there is no guarantee that we can accomplish this.
  2. It is possible that a portion of students will remain in distance learning and will need to be supported as it is not expected for a teacher to teach in a simultaneous fashion: distance  learning students and in-person students.
  3. Principals and teachers will create stable group class lists. Stable groups will be prioritized to support siblings. Schools will notify families with their stable group class assignment.

QUESTION 2: What can families do to help the school when we return to on-campus hybrid learning?

ANSWER 2: Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

  1. We will need extra support in order to make it happen! We have to ensure safety protocols are followed, and this means we will need extra pairs of hands and friendly faces on campus during the hybrid learning times. We need people to help greet students, check them in, supervise play time and make sure they get to class.
  2. All parents who wish to help will become temporary employees of the district and will need to participate in a fingerprinting process and provide proof of a TB test.
  3. You can help! We will provide a paycheck, training, and support. 
  4. Contact your school principal if you are interested.

QUESTION 3: When students return to campus will they be able to eat at school? Will Lunch be served?

ANSWER 3: Meals will continue to be provided on a “grab and go” basis and will not be served at school. Lunch will be provided for students to take home to eat. Students should eat breakfast before coming to school each day.


Reopening Resources

  1. OAUSD 2020-2021 Reopening Plan (Jul. 23, 2020)
  2. Board Resolution on Reopening Criteria (Discussed Feb.11, 2021 and to be discussed on February 25, 2021)

Optional Resources:

  1. CA Dept of Public Health Reopening In-Person Guidance (Jan. 14, 2021)
  2. Sonoma County roadmap to Reopening – Case Data (current data - Feb. 16, 2021)
  3. CDC Plan to Reopen K-12 Schools (Feb. 12, 2021)
  4. SCOE School Staff Vaccination Program (began Feb. 8, 2021)

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***FEBRUARY 16, 2021 UPDATE

District Progress Towards Reopening - Five Questions and Answers

Happy Tuesday Old Adobe School District Community!

QUESTION 1: I know that the District is discussing two criteria for reopening schools. One of the criteria is related to COVID-19 transmission rates in Sonoma County and another is related to staff vaccinations. How is it going in these two areas?

ANSWER 1: It is going well. The transmission rates are dropping throughout the county and are currently below the 25 per 100,000 individual case rate.

Vaccinations are also progressing with over 2,200 Sonoma County educators slated to receive vaccinations next week. OAUSD has staff assigned at vaccination clinics to support this effort. Our Kids Care Staff and identified Special Education staff are scheduled to receive their first dose in the next few weeks (depending on supply).

The Board is scheduled to continue the discussion about the reopening criteria at the February 25, 2021 Board Meeting.

QUESTION 2: I keep hearing on social media that Sonoma County schools have completed COVID-19 Safety Plans (CSP) and we have not completed ours. What can you tell me about this?

ANSWER 2: This week, inaccurate information has been shared via social media on this issue. Here are the facts:

  1. We have a Covid-19 Safety Plan in place. All public and private schools in Sonoma County have been waiting for the CSP template to be completed so we could transfer our current plan to the new template. At a county health department meeting, all schools received the new guidance, rubric, template, and training on Thursday, February 2/11/21.
  2. No schools or Districts in Sonoma County (public or private) have completed the updated CSP plan.
  3. The county health department has added 87 (eighty-seven) supplemental questions we have to complete prior to submitting our plans.
  4. The COVID-19 Safety Plan required for school reopening consists of two parts: 
    1. The school safety checklist (must be approved by county health department and state prior to reopening for schools in the “purple tier”)
    2. Covid-19 Prevention Plan (OAUSD current plan link below)
  5. We met with site principals on (February 10th and February 12th) to prepare for this change and provide an opportunity to begin working as a team on the new template.
  6. We will be conducting 2-hour COVID-19 Site Planning Walkthroughs at each school site this week February 16th – February 19th.
  7. We will meet with the teachers and classified associations (OATA - February 19th and CSEA February 25th) to consult with the groups regarding this planning.
  8. We will hold a family and community information night on reopening on February 23rd.
  9. We anticipate sending our CSP to the county by Friday, February 26th.
  10. Elementary (TK-6) schools that wish to reopen in the purple tier need to receive approval on the CSP from county health.
  11. Once we have our plans approved, we will post them for community viewing.

OAUSD COVID-19 Prevention Program (January 28, 2021)

OAUSD Campus/Work Site Safety Protocols (original Aug. 20, 2020, last updated Jan. 14, 2021)

QUESTION 3: What are the next steps with the reopening family survey?

ANSWER 3: The survey will open on February 19, 2021 and will close on February 26, 2021. Please complete the survey. Failure to complete this slows down the process and will make it difficult to plan for a smooth return to on-campus instruction. If you have not already done so, please review the reopening school plan to learn more about the hybrid model using the links below.

Reopening Resources

  1. OAUSD 2020-2021 Reopening Plan (Jul. 23, 2020)
  2. Board Resolution on Reopening Criteria (Discussed Feb.11, 2021 and to be discussed on February 25, 2021)

Optional Resources:

  1. CA Dept of Public Health Reopening In-Person Guidance (Jan. 14, 2021)
  2. Sonoma County roadmap to Reopening – Case Data (current data - Feb. 16, 2021)

QUESTION 4: What about Vaccinations? I keep hearing a lot of information regarding the CDC new guidance on reopening schools. What can you tell me about this?

ANSWER 4: Vaccinations are available to Educators in Sonoma County. CDC released new guidance on reopening schools on February 12, 2021. This week, inaccurate information has been shared via social media on this issue. Here are the facts:

  1. Sonoma County began vaccinating educators on February 8, 2021 using a tiered priority approach to support vaccinating educators with the greatest need. Here is the current group of Employees eligible for vaccination during the week of February 15th:
    1. All school employees age 70 and older regardless of their work assignment.
    2. Staff who currently have direct contact with students.
    3. 1st Cohort of Pre-K-6 staff (of any age) including childcare workers, preschool providers, and K-6 school staff.
  2. Currently, getting vaccinated is strictly voluntary but encouraged and it costs nothing.
  3. The CDC released guidance stating, “Access to vaccination should not be considered a condition for reopening schools for in-person instruction. Even after teachers and staff are vaccinated, schools need to continue mitigation measures for the foreseeable future, including requiring masks in schools and physical distancing.”
  4. Key strategies for reopening include:
    • Universal mask wearing
    • Physical distancing
    • Hand washing
    • Cleaning facilities and improving ventilation
    • Contact tracing, isolation and quarantining protocols

CDC Plan to Reopen K-12 Schools (Feb. 12, 2021)

SCOE School Staff Vaccination Program (began Feb. 8, 2021)

 

QUESTION 5: Can you share the school schedule for the hybrid model when school reopens to on-campus instruction?

ANSWER 5: Next week, we will be reviewing data for each school in relation to the hybrid model, with the intent of keeping each child with their current home teacher. This may or may not be possible. All information will be communicated to families in a timely manner.

Based on the latest guidance and requirements it is possible that our plan can still change or be revised based on the guidelines.

1. Students will attend school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday either in a morning or afternoon session of 150 minutes of direct instructional time. Wednesdays will follow a synchronous and asynchronous distance learning format similar to the current daily distance learning schedule.  The 1/2 school days at home will be distance learning to meet the required daily instructional minutes as follows:

  • TK/K                180 minutes per school day
  • 1st-3rd             230 minutes per school day
  • 4th-6th             240 minutes per school day

2. Students and staff will be kept in stable groups that stay together for all activities and minimize/avoid contact with other groups or individuals who are not part of the stable group.

Hybrid Model Morning and Afternoon Stable Groups with possible staggered start times