コロナが街にやってきた・・・学校の対応編

さきほどはコロナウイルスの前振りで熱くなりすぎたので

学校の対応をこちらに改めて書きます。

子供の学校の親に罹患者が出た話を前回しました。

その後、心配性な？中国名の人が

学校の閉鎖や症状のある子供達全員へのテスト診断などを求めて署名活動をしていました。

私が見た時は１５００名が目標ですでに１０００名の署名が集まっていました

が、

何名かの親が"Paranoia"心配しすぎだ！、恐怖心を煽って迷惑だ！と言っていました。

反対の人の方が私の周りでは多かった感触です。

後日、署名目標数が増えたと聞いたので、１５００名以上は署名を集めたのでしょうね。

見てないから詳しい所はわかりませんが。

噂によると翌日の学校を数百名の学生が休んだとか。

先週はメンロースクールの職員がウイルス患者に接触したかもしれないとの理由で

週末まで学校がクローズしていましたが、職員の陰性結果が出されました。

スタンフォード大学は職員に罹患者が出て、一部の学生も隔離中という事で

面と向かっての講義はやめてオンラインにシフトしています。

美術館など一般に公開されていた施設も学生のみになりました。

以前は１００名、たぶん今は５０名以上のイベントは中止してるのではないかと思います。

さてパロアルト・ディストリクトですが、さきほどメールが来ました。

学校はあります。サンタクララカウンティの保健当局の指示に従うとの事。

１００名以上のイベントは基本キャンセル。

今年のプロムは中止です。。。これはかわいそう。

卒業式とその前に行うバカローリエは現段階では準備中。

あと親は校内に入ってはいけなくなりました。これもしょうがないですね。

全てのフィールドトリップ（遠足）も中止。。。涙。

小中学校の全てのパフォーマンス中止。演劇とか発表会とか。。。涙。

学校施設の貸し出し禁止。

CAASP test延期。。。やったー？。。。ん、うちの学年は関係ないのか？

てな具合です。

なかなかの決断だと思うので、参考までにメールを全公開しちゃいます。

強いリーダーシップというのは必要ですね。

From the Office of the Superintendent:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The core mission of the Palo Alto Unified School District is to provide a high-quality education for all students.

PAUSD staff continues to closely monitor the situation regarding the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) while working with partner agencies to ensure we are providing our community with accurate and timely information. As you may be aware, on March 5, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department made statements in a press release that signaled a change in approach from previous communications. They recommended that communities, governments, businesses, and schools postpone or cancel mass gatherings and large community events where large numbers of people are within arm’s length of one another. These recommendations are meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and reduce the number of people infected, and especially protect those who are most vulnerable to severe illness. This is a critical moment in the growing outbreak of COVID-19 in Santa Clara County when such measures can potentially slow the spread of the disease.

Effective tomorrow, March 10, through the end of the school year, the following conditions will be put into place in order to continue to provide a high-quality education for all students:

Event Cancellations

This is a difficult decision, as we know many of you have been looking forward to these events. All upcoming school and district related large gatherings (more than 100 people) are canceled through the end of the school year. This includes events where students, staff, parents, and outside community members come together in close proximity to one another. Specific upcoming events that are now canceled include:

All field trips
All school dances, including prom
Group assemblies greater than 100 people
CAASPP testing
Professional learning events
Parent education events
School open houses
PAUSD Career Fair
PAUSD Leadership Institute
All elementary and middle school performances

Additional Restrictions

To the extent possible, and in an effort to limit the exposure in our community, the following restrictions are now in place:

Parents & visitors will not be permitted on school grounds during the school day. Should any parent have a question regarding whether or not they can participate in an activity, please contact your site administrator.
Outside rentals of PAUSD facilities will be canceled until the end of the school year. Exceptions will be made on a case by case basis for groups that serve only PAUSD students.
High school athletic events and performances will be limited to 100 people in attendance and must be held in the largest venues on campus to accommodate guidance on increased social distancing. Ticketing protocols will be determined by school administrators. (Venues to be used include: Spangenberg Theatre, Titan and Bow Gyms at Gunn; Performing Arts Center and Peery Center at Paly).
High school sporting event restrictions may be changed if additional guidance and/or restrictions are provided by CIF.

Events Currently Scheduled to Proceed

The following events are currently scheduled to proceed as planned, however, these events may be canceled given the dynamic and rapidly evolving situation.

Senior week events, including Baccalaureate and Senior Showcase/Awards
Graduations & Promotions
Summer School

School Closures

At this time, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department currently is not recommending closing schools. If a staff member or student in a specific school is confirmed to have COVID-19, the Superintendent and local public health officials will consider, based on the specific facts and circumstances of that case, whether closure of that school is warranted. The Public Health Department is not recommending school closures at this time because individuals under 18 years of age have not been shown to be a high-risk group for serious illness from this virus. Should the Public Health Department determine a school closure is warranted, the duration is likely to be the length of time needed to conduct cleaning protocols and determine readmission criteria.

We will be suspending all instructional and extra-curricular activities in the event of a school closure.

Home Study Materials

Please be informed that we do not have the capacity to provide instructional support for well students who stay at home. If a student has extenuating health circumstances, please contact your site administrator to identify appropriate next steps.

Health Guidelines Remain the Same

The same simple steps that prevent the spread of ordinary flu viruses work against COVID-19 and other illnesses.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Cough into a tissue or your elbow (not your hand). Then throw tissue away and wash hands.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Keep students home if temperature is above 100.0 F (37.8 C) or they report not feeling well, appear weak or ill.
Consult your health care provider if you or your child has special health conditions that put you at increased risk.

Spring Break Travel

As a reminder, if our families travel to any affected international locations over the upcoming spring break, they will be subject to the quarantine guidelines and any new guidelines that may be implemented. We ask that if you travel to any affected countries that you follow all related guidelines to support the health and safety of our community.

PAUSD Contacts

For additional questions related to COVID-19 protocols and procedures please contact Yolanda Conaway, Assistant Superintendent.

The rapid development of COVID-19 has created significant challenges and stresses for our district family. The 24-hour news and social media cycles have contributed to our collective stress and worry. Things are changing by the day. The district will make all attempts to keep you informed and updated.

I want to reiterate that making our schools a healthy and safe environment that provides a high-quality education to all students is our primary goal. I want to thank our staff for their continued professionalism and dedication to serving and protecting our students, families, and fellow colleagues. And I want to thank our district families for their ongoing mindfulness in respecting student privacy, confidentiality, and being sensitive and supportive to each other.

Sincerely,

Don Austin, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Palo Alto Unified School District