MDUSD Board to consider March 22 school reopening timeline

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA—Mt. Diablo Unified School District Superintendent Adam Clark announced a new reopening timeline proposal that would phase in some elementary grade levels and special day classes into a hybrid model as early as Mar. 22.

The Board of Trustees is expected to vote on the reopening timeline proposal at its Mar. 10 regular board meeting.

Superintendent Clark issued this letter to the community Thursday:

Yesterday, we were informed that our COVID-19 Prevention Program and required Cal OSHA documents were approved by the state and county.

We are pleased to report that several surrounding counties have moved into the Red Tier and it appears that Contra Costa will be moving into the Red Tier on Mar. 9 or Mar. 16.

I am also pleased to share that over 27,000 surveys were collected from families documenting their interest in having their students attend school in a hybrid model this Spring.

School site principals are enthusiastically starting the process of building classes and schedules. The difference between the number of students choosing in-person and the number of students choosing hybrid was less than 1,500 students. We are pleased that we can offer both options to serve our families.

Our site administrators and classified staff have worked diligently to prepare the physical aspects of their sites for the return of students. MDUSD is in possession of tens of thousands of cloth and surgical masks, over 1000 gallons of hand sanitizer, thousands of safety signs and markers and plexiglass shields for staff. With materials secured and protocols in place, our campuses are prepared to open to students and families.

At the Mar. 10 Governing Board meeting, I will recommend that the MDUSD Board of Trustees consider a phased-in timeline for reopening. The phased in approach will invite students to begin returning on Monday, Mar. 22, for the “Hybrid Model” in the following timeline recommendation:

• March 17, All staff who are working remotely will return to assigned school site
• March 19, For “campus previews,” school sites will be open to students and parents with all physical distancing and safety measures adhered to
• March 22, First day of In-Person Learning for Preschool, TK, K, 1^st, 2^nd, self-contained SDC classes, and the Bridge Transition Program
• March 25, First day of In-Person Learning for 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th Grade
• March 29, First day of In-Person Learning for all other grade levels
• April 2-9, Spring Recess

I realize that this recommendation may not be perceived as ideal by all members of our Mt. Diablo Unified community. Starting this process now will allow us to effectively systematize processes and protocols to support student needs and work towards a full reopening in fall of 2021. I make this recommendation with the full understanding that we are still in global pandemic and the safety of all stakeholders continues to be our highest priority. We will continue to work with our labor partners in good faith.

We are quickly approaching our one-year anniversary of being closed. I am beyond confident that we can serve our students in-person safely.

Sincerely,

Superintendent Adam Clark, Ed.D.
Mt. Diablo Unified School District