Student Interdistrict Transfers, Outdoor Masking, Vaccination Requirements
Piedmont Unified School District Board Meeting Summary – September 14, 2021
Enrollment in schools throughout California has been on the decline, including in Piedmont.
For the 2021-2022 School year under the current policies 41 approved Interdistrict transfer students enrolled in TK -5th grade and 12 approved Interdistrict transfer students enrolled in 6th -11th grade as of 8/37/21. Interdistrict transfers are students enrolled in Piedmont schools who originate from another school district.
In order to mitigate the loss of what could be considerable funding for our
schools, District staff recommended that the Interdistrict transfer policy be revised:
- Permit the option of accepting the Interdistrict transfers of students at all grade
levels. - Allow for more flexibility in accepting the Interdistrict transfers of families whose grandparents reside in Piedmont.
- Reflect language that adheres to recent changes in the Education Code.
Highlights of the Current Interdistrict Transfer Policy :
- The Superintendent or designee may approve interdistrict transfer requests when
capacity within the District exists. Students whose requests are denied solely
because of lack of capacity within the District will be placed on a waiting list, and
their application will be considered if space becomes available.
The decision to admit out-of-District students is discretionary, when capacity
exists; applications may be approved based on the following priorities:
1. Parents Constructing or Remodeling a Home
2. High School Juniors and Seniors Who Have Moved Out of the District
3. Children of Piedmont Unified School District Employees
4. Children of the City of Piedmont Government Employees
5. Children of the Piedmont Educational Foundation Director
6. Children Residing on Calvert Court
7. Residences on Approved Piedmont Split Parcel Properties
8. GrandParent – Grandchild of an Individual(s) Who Lives Within the
Boundaries of PUSD
9.Approved Split Parcels with Oakland and Adjoining Minor Piedmont Parcel
10. Other Applicants
Outdoor Masking:
Superintendent Booker reviewed the District’s requirements regarding outdoor masking. At its last meeting, the Health & Safety Steering Committee was asked if there was an ‘off-ramp’ where the District could consider rolling back or eliminating the outdoor requirement. Discussion centered around that being outdoors is not a cure for COVID – aerosol transmission is still possible. Suggestion was made to wait until Alameda County falls to below five cases per 100,000 residents (currently at 13.5) before considering any changes to requirements.
Vaccinations:
The Committee will be asked if the rules should be different for vaccinated vs. unvaccinated students at its next meeting on September 29th.
As of September 13th, 83% of families had responded that 74% of eligible students were fully vaccinated.
Revised Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 5141.31 – Immunizations
– Revised policy would add the COVID vaccination to the existing list of
vaccinations required for enrollment in PUSD. All age-eligible students would be required to show proof of vaccination or submit a medical exemption and be tested weekly. Questions to be answered before Board approval would be: what dates should be chosen as deadlines to show proof of vaccinations, how much time should students be given to become vaccinated once becoming age-eligible, and should the mandate be for students 12 and older, or 16 and older to fall under FDA approval for the Pfizer vaccine? Board will discuss and take possible action at its September 22nd meeting.
Next Regular School Board Meeting – Wednesday, September 22nd, 7 pm
