Dear MPCSD Parents and Guardians,
At its meeting last night, the MPCSD School Board voted unanimously to submit a waiver to the San Mateo County Health Department requesting to open for in-person instruction for kindergarteners and first graders with a targeted opening date of September 28. MPCSD is joined by Hillsborough School District, who also approved a waiver last night, as the first two districts in San Mateo county to apply for a waiver. Many more are likely to follow in the next few weeks.
Since delaying this vote at its September 3 meeting, the district has taken a variety of steps to continue working with teachers and staff to build support for reopening safety measures. The steps included multiple meetings with union leadership; site administration conversations with kinder and first grade teachers; initial scenario planning at site level with teacher consultation; and convening two health and safety panels for teacher-generated questions to be addressed by medical and public health professionals. See the full presentation about the reopening here.
Our Board members feel confident in MPCSD’s robust health and safety plan including the many additional precautions that will be added under a waiver (see the presentation for details). The Board feels that the academic and social-emotional risks to young students from being away from in-person learning outweigh potential health risks from bringing students back on campus. Board members commented that the medical experts in this week’s panels concurred that MPCSD’s plan is comprehensive, safe, and that they see no reason not to reopen for kindergarten and first grade students at this time. I am grateful that the Board took this bold and timely step towards returning some of our students to school. Now there is much work to do over the next two weeks!
The rest of this letter applies specifically to parents of kindergarteners and first graders enrolled in the Hybrid model. If that is not you, feel free to ignore the rest. There will also be no impact to families enrolled in the Virtual Academy.
Next Steps
The District will submit its waiver application by the end of day today, September 11. San Mateo County requires a fourteen day runway between the target reopening date and the application submission. The district will use the next two weeks to prepare classrooms, implement its weekly staff COVID testing program with Stanford Health Care (also approved at last night’s meeting), and hold parent education sessions to request strict adherence to health and safety measures and describe the program design.
Parent Education and Planning
It is important to know that while we believe returning young students to in-person instruction is the right thing to do, both academically and social-emotionally, school will not look or feel “normal” during this time. Choices families make outside of school are also a crucial component of keeping students and staff safe and healthy thus ensuring that our schools can remain open. Something you can start doing right now is having your child practice wearing a mask for an hour or two at a time, putting it on and taking it off by themselves, and washing their hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Children who can’t or won’t keep masks on when required will be asked to move to distance learning, per our health protocols.
My team and I will be hosting three essential Mandatory K-1 Parent Orientation meetings where you will receive important details about what to expect at school and what we expect from families. These sessions will include health and safety protocols, what the day will look like, lunch options, and more. While scheduled at each of our elementary schools, if a parent is unable to attend the one scheduled for their school, they can attend one of the others. The sessions will be:
- September 21 at 3:00 p.m., Hosted by Oak Knoll
- September 21 at 5:00 p.m., Hosted by Laurel
- September 22 at 6:30 p.m., Hosted by Encinal
Zoom Webinar links will be emailed at the end of next week.
September 25 - Special Programming
To give our teachers time to set up their classrooms without having to also provide distance learning, we have set aside Friday, September 25 as an asynchronous learning day. Your students will not have live programming with their teacher on September 25. Individual teachers will communicate more about this day, and provide alternate activities that your child can complete on their own time.
Child Care
MPCSD provides facilities for two of our community partners--GrowFit and Newton--who offer extended day care options. More information will be emailed about child care options next week.
In-Person Expectation
Prior to choosing Hybrid, all families were reminded that the Hybrid choice meant being prepared to send your child back to school when the Board made the decision to return students. September 28 is the date that your child is expected to return to school. MPCSD has worked hard to offer options to parents. We are unable to guarantee accommodation for Distance Learning (Virtual Academy) after Hybrid has been chosen. All Hybrid teachers will be teaching in person and will not be able to provide children with an alternate program. If for any reason you are unwilling or unable to send your child back to school beginning September 28, you are asked to email your school principal ASAP. If you are temporarily living out of the area, but still retain residence in Menlo Park, you will be expected to return in person. If you are unable, you will be required to disenroll from MPCSD, attend a school where you are currently living, and re-enroll with MPCSD upon your return.
COVID Testing for Your Child and YOU!
MPCSD is currently working with an outside vendor which provides “event” COVID testing opportunities for students and staff. MPCSD is preparing to offer a COVID testing event for all kindergarten and first grade students returning to school on September 28 and their families. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 22 and confidential results will be sent to all participants on Friday, September 25. MPCSD would like all families to consider signing up to have their returning child tested; while not required, it is highly recommended. Siblings and parents are also welcome to sign up to be tested. Testing will be billed to each family’s personal health insurance and no out-of-pocket expenses will be required at the event. MPCSD will continue to offer regular testing events at Hillview Middle School while our schools are open and COVID remains a threat.
More Information
Between now and September 28 you will hear from your individual teachers and principals with additional information. If you have questions that are not being answered by school or district communications, please reach out to [email protected]. Continue to use our COVID FAQ site or our Reopening Plan as a resource to familiarize yourself with the protocols that will be in place upon return to the classroom.
Sincerely,
Erik Burmeister
