Small School Districts' Association

Lucerne Valley Elementary Gets OK To Begin In-School Classes Superintendent Peter Livingston sets August 20th as start date for “hybrid plan” as county, state respond quickly to Lucerne Valley’s waiver request. By LVUSD Social Media The Lucerne Valley Unified School District is the first in San Bernardino County to obtain a waiver to open its elementary school to in-person instruction after the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health approved the waiver on Wednesday. “We are approved as of today,” Superintendent Peter Livingston said Wednesday afternoon. “We’re the first in the county, and I believe we’re one of the first in the state. We’re really excited!” The school district received the approval letter on August 12th from San Bernardino County’s Interim Health Officer Dr. Erin Gustafson. She cited Lucerne Valley’s COVID-19 low community case rate of only 56.8 per 100,000 people compared to the county’s nearly four times higher overall rate of about 200 per 100,000 and the district’s comprehensive School Reopening Plan for the approval. Lucerne Valley Unified’s plan contains “all required elements to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the school setting,” she said. Lucerne Valley’s community case rate “is below the recommended threshold set by the state for considering an elementary school waiver for opening in-person instruction,” she added. The county’s Department of Health sent its review of the LVUSD waiver application to the California Department of Public Health, which “concurred with our recommendation and notified us on August 12 that we may issue an approval to reopen your Elementary School for in-person instruction,” Dr. Gustafson wrote. Lucerne Valley Elementary School parents will have the choice to select either full-time virtual distance learning or the hybrid model of both distance learning and in-school instruction. The hybrid plan has two days of in-school instruction with distance learning on the other days, according to Mr. Livingston. “Our plan will be to reopen on August 20. This allows us time to fully communicate with all stakeholders.” Lucerne Valley Elementary School Principal Ricky Anderson shared Livingston’s excitement about opening up to in-person instruction for those who choose it. “It was great news hearing that we could open our elementary school on a hybrid model based on the data and safety precautions provided by the San Bernardino County Public Health Department,” Mr. Anderson said. “It truly has been a collective effort by all our students, families, administration, classified, and certificated employees to ensure a safe return for our students.” Moreover, the principal added, “if it wasn’t for the dedication and long hours put in by our Superintendent Peter Livingston and our tremendous school board, none of this would have been possible.” As the school gears up for the August 20th hybrid launch the staff is making sure that the safeguards and procedures are fine-tuned. “We are continuing to work closely with our superintendent and the San Bernardino County Public Health department to ensure a safe learning environment for our students,” Mr. Anderson said. Credit also goes to the community’s families for showing their support for getting students back in the classroom, he added. “It truly says something about our town and how they value the importance of education and getting our kids safely back in school.” Superintendent Peter Livingston talked about Lucerne Valley Elementary School receiving approval to reopen to in-person learning in a video on YouTube. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWuQbiQ2_L8&feature=youtu.be

SSDA Associate Salesforce helps Bay Area school districts with 17 million donation. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sfgate.com/education/amp/Salesforce-donates-9M-each-to-SFUSD-and-OUSD-15473855.php

Some Districts Struggling to Agree on Collective Bargaining Issues. https://edsource.org/2020/some-california-districts-teachers-struggle-to-agree-on-distance-learning/638027

As the school starts get closer, emotions will intensify. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/story/2020-07-27/readers-react-school-reopening-debate-grows-louder-as-school-year-draws-near%3f_amp=true.

New CDC Guidelines Emphasizes Getting Kids Back Into School. https://apple.news/ANrNntparS52lQoVDSu-udA

#Hogfire #Goldfire are growing and only 5% contained in Lassen County. Evacuations ordered near Aidin and in Modoc County as well. #ssda #modoccoe #lassencoe

Great article from EdSource https://edsource.org/2020/when-children-return-to-school-dont-skip-recess/636028

We just updated our Coronavirus Resources with resources from AALRR: Senate Bill 98 Reworks Parameters for School Reopening & COVID-19 and Its Impact on Educational Institutions https://www.ssda.org/article/202303?org=ssda

FDA Issues Warning Regarding Hand Sanitizers with Methanol and child safety https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-updates-hand-sanitizers-methanol

LAUSD and SDUSD Will Not Reopen for In Person Learning. Time for state to commit to close digital divide so ALL kids in CA have access to DL. #ssda #cde #CTA #Acsa https://edsource.org/2020/schools-in-los-angeles-san-diego-wont-reopen-for-in-person-learning-next-month/635924

Nebraska Re-Opening Plans for Schools and District Contingency Plans Framework. Great stuff! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WLLqz3wf6ewhf8K0QEKLTt20HVHgodak/view https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l1FZ4nrXLyEX4vy3UdIlgJ1pKQVQBCpr/view

Face Masks Will Be Required in Schools! CDPH amends guidance. https://www.aalrr.com/newsroom-alerts-3741

#PACE policy research center out of Stanford highlights rural Mother Lode Districts response during COVID. Great work Supt. Marcy Guthrie and staff! https://edpolicyinca.org/publications/collaboration-and-addressing-student-needs?utm_source=PACE+All&utm_campaign=d8da543305-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_08_29_05_32_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9f1af6b121-d8da543305-&utm_source=PACE+All&utm_campaign=d8da543305-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_08_29_05_32_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9f1af6b121-d8da543305-590406309

Sac County Office of Education releases guidance for schools to address Covid 19 for school restart. https://www.scoe.net/news/library/2020/june/02reopening_guidance/

Lucerne Valley Graduation in the beautiful high desert! Speaking to these students is so humbling. Congrats Class of 2020!

Homeless Students may get needed support from USDE! #ssda #BCOESchoolTies #CACYC https://edsource.org/2020/schools-would-get-1-billion-to-help-homeless-students-under-bipartisan-federal-proposal/632259

SSDA Board Members Kathy Granger and Linda Irving highlighted in “spot on” article about reopening. Happy Memorial Day Weekend! #ssda #acsa #casbo #cde https://mobile.edweek.org/c.jsp?cid=25919821&bcid=25919821&rssid=25919811&item=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.edweek.org%2Fv1%2Few%2Findex.html%3Fuuid%3D753EB988-9B91-11EA-B3EE-956759D98AAA

Great to see SSDA member Lucerne Valley highlighted in EdSource today! #ssda #CAruraled #acsa https://edsource.org/2020/californias-smallest-districts-plan-socially-distant-in-person-graduations-this-spring/632066

Two great articles about what it might look like next year for schools. https://www.berkeleyside.com/2020/05/14/orderly-hallways-12-person-classes-berkeley-schools-could-be-unrecognizable-in-the-fall?doing_wp_cron=1589818723.4794890880584716796875 and https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-05-09/half-time-high-school-may-be-all-that-students-need #ssda. #acsa

Positive Staff Shout Out at Placerville Elementary! https://youtu.be/QHGQHayAvPU #ssda #CSEA #CASBO