ESUSD Superintendent Melissa Moore distributed this message via email to parents, ESUSD employees and the community 12/4/20 in preparation for school opening for students in grades TK-2.
December 4, 2020
Dear ESUSD Families, Employees and Community,
I hope you had a restful Thanksgiving break. In case you missed it, I wanted to share that Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued two separate new health orders over Thanksgiving, the second of which went into effect Monday. The most recent and restrictive order went into effect November 30th.
Noteworthy in the closures and restrictions enacted at this time is that there has been no order to close down the few schools that are open, or those that have permission to open. ESUSD is continuing to heed the advice of the LA County Department of Public Health (LACDPH), and therefore we are still moving forward with our plan to open our schools for students in grades TK-2 beginning next Tuesday, December 8th. I have received several emails suggesting that we wait to begin these programs until after we return from Winter Break, but I trust and believe that LACDPH’s guidance is rooted in science and medical knowledge, and they would not be permitting us to remain open if they did not believe it was safe to do so. LADPH has also approved both the CSS and RSS specific campus plans and protocols, which are strongly based on health and safety practices that have been in place for our TLC students since August: a presentation regarding those plans and protocols was shown as part of the Town Hall that was hosted last month and can be viewed in playback [here]. The school district respects the right of each parent to make the best decision for their child regarding returning to school for in-person hybrid instruction. If you opted for Hybrid instruction and no longer wish to have your child attend school, you should notify your school principal. Reopening school in December also allows students in TK-2ndgrade to experience the hybrid plan in action prior to parents having to make a commitment for second semester.
Eight days of in-person instruction in December will allow our hybrid students to acclimate to an on-campus environment, get acquainted with classmates and their teacher in person, and learn the essential new protocols to ensure the health and safety of all. I am pleased to share a video link to welcome students and families back as we reopen school for students in TK-2 grades [here]. In our next phase of reopening, we will strive to expand opportunities for students in third through fifth grade, likely second semester. I encourage you to watch the video with your child prior to returning to school on December 8th.
If we all follow the safety protocols that we have in place, schools will remain very safe places for our students and staff. As Dr. Fauci said this weekend, “The default position should be to try as best as possible, within reason, to keep the children in school, to get them back to school.” We are excited to reopen school to our youngest learners!
I am grateful that our County is prioritizing education and that they are doing so with the safety of our students and staff in mind. I am so appreciative of our teachers, employees and administrators who are actively preparing for this important transition. I am committed to the implementation of our safety protocols every day, and I urge us all to abide by these newest rules, so that our in-person schooling can be as safe as possible for our students and our staff.
With gratitude that we are in this together,
Melissa Moore, Ed.D.
Superintendent
El Segundo Unified School District