November 21, 2020
Since our last dashboard, the COVID-19 spread metrics have unfortunately risen. We remain in the Widespread tier. As we explore our options for in-person instruction, we continue to prioritize safety above all else.
COVID-19 Data
Statewide metrics
16.5 New COVID-19 positive cases per day per 100K
(Increase of 8.8 from last WUSD Dashboard)

5.2% Positivity rate
(Increase of 1.9 from last WUSD Dashboard)
Los Angeles County metrics
20.6 New COVID-19 cases per day per 100K
(Increase of 8.1 from last WUSD Dashboard)

13.7 Adjusted case rate for tier assignment
(Increase of 6.2 from last WUSD Dashboard)

5.3% Positivity rate
(Increase of 1.3% from last WUSD Dashboard)
Los Angeles County Tier:
Minimum requirements to move tiers
Counties must meet the following two conditions in order to move from the Widespread to the Substantial tier:

  • Positivity rate must be below 8%

  • Cases per 100,000 residents must be below 7 new cases per 100,000 residents
(Source for all the above data and information)
What this means for schools:
As we shared in our previous newsletters, schools may not reopen fully for in-person instruction until the county has been in the Substantial (red) tier for two weeks. To move forward, a county must meet the next tier’s criteria for two consecutive weeks (28 days minimum).

See the animated explanation below of how schools in Los Angeles County can reopen as the county progresses tiers in this video explanation by Superintendent Blake Silvers:
Outlook for COVID-19 in Los Angeles County
California has reported more than 10,000 new daily cases four times since last Thursday, a figure we have not experienced since the outbreak began. Los Angeles County alone has seen a 103 percent increase in new cases over the past week, and experts are predicting an exponential rise in the number of cases in the coming weeks. As a consequence, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Thursday that California was re-entering a stay-at-home order phase.

This order, issued by the California Department of Public Health, prohibits most nonessential activities outside the home from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in counties in the Widespread (purple) tier, including Los Angeles County. The restriction goes into effect today (Saturday) and lasts at a minimum through Dec. 21.

As we enter the stay-at-home order, experts say personal actions families can take to best protect themselves include wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding indoor gatherings with people who aren’t members of their immediate household.
What this all means for Wiseburn
While the outlook from experts is not positive, we are hopeful and trying to stay optimistic that the stay-at-home order and the holidays may allow many to stay home and lessen the spread of COVID-19.

We continue to monitor the numbers and the directives and mandates from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) and the state of California, which determine when we can reopen for in-person instruction. Barring any further mandates, our goal remains to bring students back to campuses when it is safe to do so.

  • One such opportunity to bring some students to campus has already been approved by the LADPH. As we shared in our previous dashboard and at previous board meetings, we have begun bringing in some students with specialized learning needs for in-person assessments, during which we follow a strict safety protocol. We plan to continue moving forward with these programs and practices as they are essential services for our students.  

  • We have also submitted our application to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health for a waiver that would allow some TK-2 students at Anza and Cabrillo to return to campus for in-person learning in small cohorts and for limited amounts of time, as Superintendent Blake Silvers shared at our last board meeting.

While we await the results of the application process, we continue to plan for these potential operations, keeping in mind current and potential COVID-19 conditions. Our planning also includes preparing for the potential reopening of our preschool and extended day program. The analysis and potential reopening of our general education preschool and extended day program is a priority as we understand the mounting need for this support for our families. However, we will rebuild this program with a lens of safety for our students, families, and greater community.  

We recognize that even if we are granted the TK-2 waiver within the coming weeks, we will only utilize the waiver’s reopening permissions if it is advisable to do so. The waiver just grants us an ability to bring some of our students back at a future date to be determined if the conditions are right.

In a best case scenario, we anticipate this waiver, if granted, may allow us to reopen partially and with limited capacity for TK-2 and childcare in January 2021.

As a reminder, however, we will still be providing students, families, and caregivers with the choice to opt in or out for in-person education if and when we are able to provide it. In the event of a physical school reopening, families will have an option for either our in-person learning or our distance learning model.

In the meantime, we encourage our families to take the recommended precautions to keep safe during this pandemic, particularly as we approach the holiday season. We continue to be thankful for these life-saving actions taken by our community, and hold out hope that we’ll be together again soon.
Follow Wiseburn USD:
Wiseburn resources
Psychological and child services resources
What we're reading
COVID-19 Resources for Parents

This regularly-updated document, compiled by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, contains links to resources to assist parents and students during the school closures.

Read more
docs.google.com
California Dept. of Education Weekly COVID-19 Update

In these weekly updates, the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction shares updates from State Superintendent Tony Thurmond.

Read more
www.cde.ca.gov
Tracking the coronavirus in Los Angeles County

This comprehensive dashboard from the Los Angeles Times is updated daily with data and trends on COVID-19 from across Los Angeles County.

Read more
www.latimes.com
Have any thoughts on what you’d like to see in the next Wiseburn COVID-19 Dashboard? Suggestions and comments are welcome at communication@wiseburn.org.
Wiseburn Unified School District | (310) 725-2101