ESUSD Superintendent Melissa Moore distributed this message via email to parents, ESUSD employees and the community on 01/11/21.
January 11, 2021
Dear ESUSD Families, Employees and Community,
As I shared with you in my communication on Friday, January 8th, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) representatives shared a new recommendation to school districts to limit in-person activities to essential services and shift all non-essential services to distance learning. On Friday night, DPH then published a letter outlining the details of this recommendation:
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) strongly recommends that all TK-12 schools in the county suspend in person student instruction, services, and activities during the month of January as much as possible. For the remainder of the month, on campus activities should be limited to the implementation of distance learning, food distribution, and other minimum essential operations. Childcare for school age children may continue to occur at school sites to support the needs of essential workers who do not have the option to stay home. In person support for high need students should be limited to those necessary services and adjustments that cannot be delivered virtually and cannot reasonably be postponed until February. (You can read the full letter here.)
Over the past ten months, ESUSD has remained steadfast in following all DPH health orders related to childcare, high needs hybrid, athletics, and TK-2 instruction, and as Superintendent, I have followed DPH’s guidance. Although Friday’s DPH letter is not a health order, I will heed DPH’s recommendation. Therefore, I apologize for the short notice, but out of an abundance of caution for the safety and well-being of our students, staff and the greater community, I am temporarily pausing the in-person conduct of TK-2nd grade hybrid school, athletic conditioning, and high needs hybrid stable cohorts. These in-person services will remain virtual on Tuesday, January 12. The Learning Connection (TLC) childcare program will remain operational at this time.
At the January 12th Board meeting, I will recommend that the Board uphold the following
- Pause TK-2nd Grade Hybrid School
- Pause Athletic Conditioning
- Pause High Needs Hybrid Stable Cohorts
- Continue 1-on-1 Special Education Assessments
- Continue to provide Childcare at TLC and allow for new enrollments to meet essential workers needs
- Allow PSAT administration to 11th grade students at ESHS on January 26, 2021
This recommendation would remain in effect through February 1 with the caveat that ESUSD extend the pause of in-person services if DPH guidance is such. This recommendation is not a reflection of the hard work all employees have demonstrated to follow the DPH Health Orders but the current state of COVID-19 within Los Angeles County. Whether we like it or not, right now we live in the global epicenter of COVID-19. The school district will send out information to you regarding the Board’s direction after Tuesday’s meeting, and as always, I will keep you posted.
Thank you for your continued patience, understanding and compliance with this ever-evolving situation.
With gratitude that we are in this together,
Melissa Moore, Ed.D.
Superintendent
El Segundo Unified School District