School Site Facilities Closure and Student Dismissal Extended
March 20, 2020
The District held a special Board of Education meeting (click here to watch the recording), Thursday, March 19th – 3:00pm where they unanimously passed Resolution 20-2019-20 – Emergency Actions by the Superintendent of Schools.
With this authorization, the superintendent has extended the Piedmont Unified School District Site Facilities Closure and Student Dismissal through April 7, 2020 (to coincide with the current shelter-in-place).
As we progress over the next several weeks, District leadership, in consultation with the Governor’s Office, Alameda County Public Health Department, Alameda County Office of Education, and the Piedmont Unified School District Board of Education, will determine if the school facilities closure and student dismissal will be extended past April 7, 2020. If so, it may affect our scheduled Spring Break (April 13th-17th). The District will communicate if changes to Spring Break dates occur.
March 25, 2020 Regularly Scheduled Board of Education Meeting is Canceled.
The Piedmont Unified School District Board of Education, during its March 19, 2020 Special Board Meeting, unanimously decided to cancel their March 25, 2020 regularly scheduled Board of Education Meeting.
Distance-Learning Update
PUSD educators are working to develop and deliver distance learning opportunities for students. It was just a few days ago when the Board of Education voted to close schools and dismiss students, and much has changed since then. At first the District planned for a 2-week closure. Now we are shifting for a closure that may last for an extended period of time.
Educators will use this extended closure to collaborate (virtually) and build-out virtual lessons and learning experiences in order to grow in our ability to provide a continuance of education. These experiences will vary greatly from elementary to middle to our high schools. PUSD is committed to supporting our educators during this unique time of curriculum development and delivery. Patience and flexibility will be required as teachers and staff balance family and work responsibilities during this time of crisis.
Teachers and administrators’ email inboxes are overwhelmed with an abundance of suggestions and products for distance-learning solutions, both from the private and public sector. PUSD will progress in its development and delivery of distance-learning plans by researching appropriate technology tools and delivery strategies, provide the needed training and professional learning to teachers and staff, and collaborate with our educational professionals on how best to help students and families during this challenging time. School site administrators and teachers will provide families with progress updates along the way.
Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-33-20
March 19, 2020
“The California State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health is ordering all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at their place of residence, except as needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors.”
Read a summary of the Executive Order here (CA.gov website) or the full Executive Order here (pdf).
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond stated in a follow-up email last night, that “the order does NOT change or impact our role, considered essential, and our duty to carry out the following essential services …”
Additionally, “the Education Facilities Subsector covers pre-kindergarten through grade 12 schools, institutions of higher education, and business and trade schools. The sub-sector includes facilities that are owned by both government and private sector entities.”
While PUSD educators will continue to develop distance-learning opportunities for students, PUSD implores those families with middle and/or high school students to share this information with them and restrict their outings to only essential tasks/trips.
PUSD will continue to provide updates as it learns more from the Alameda County Public Health Department and the Alameda County Office of Education.
For questions, please contact Randall Booker, PUSD Superintendent at rbooker@piedmont.k12.ca.us
