MUSD's 2020-21 reopening plan to ensure safety, flexibility

Good afternoon MUSD Families and Team Members,

Our lives have changed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual learning/working, sheltering at home, social distancing, and wearing face coverings are now part of our daily routines as we continue to do our part to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Our Milpitas Unified School District community has stood strong in the face of the unknown and demonstrated an unbridled willingness to help our most vulnerable families by tapping every available resource. Collaboratively we are developing the next iteration of MUSD EducatEveryWhere to ensure safety for all as we phase in the 2020-21 school year.

The ever-evolving COVID-19 factor calls us to remain flexible in our planning. Since April we have garnered invaluable input from countless staff and community members through surveys (6,811 responses overall), video chats, community presentations, board meetings, and our COVID19 Task Force Subcommittees. We are planning for two pathways as we phase in 2020-21 on August 13th with MUSD EducatEveryWhere v2.0: 

• 100% distance learning for at least half of the school year; and
• Hybrid of in-person and distance learning; 

In both cases the goal is to transition to in-person learning 100% of the time for our learners. We recognize that distance learning has been intrinsically effective for some learners, and we plan to provide this as an optional program for secondary students post-COVID19. 

At our June 23 Board of Education Meeting, we announced that all MUSD students will begin the year in 100% distance learning for the first month of the 2020-21 school year. From there, and based on the latest guidelines provided by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department (PHD), we will implement a phased-in, hybrid approach to allow staff and students back on campus for in-person learning. Our MUSD Advisory Task Force mapped out EducatEveryWhere v.2.0 class schedules for elementary, middle and high school, and presented those at our June 9 Board meeting. All decisions we make are in compliance with the guiding principles set forth in the California Department of Education Guidebook (CDE) and theSanta Clara County Office of Education Guidebook (SCCOE).

The first day of school for the 2020-21 school year has not changed, school starts August 13 with all learners in distance learning for the first month. When in-person instruction is appropriate, we have a phased-in hybrid plan to minimize risk for students and staff, with consideration of scientific research regarding the spread of COVID-19. This includes:

• Limiting numbers of students on campuses to meet PHD guidelines
• Maintaining stable cohorts of students & teachers with measures to avoid mixing elementary students with other classes on campus
• Provide volunteer opportunities that are virtual and away from the classroom
• Establish daily wellness protocols
• Ensure we have adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer, and access to handwashing 
• Establish protocols to sanitize frequently used facilities and high touch surfaces
• Signage and floor markings directing students moving between classes and using safety precautions at all times
• Provide a Grab & Go Lunch Program for students

Along with safety, we are implementing enhanced learning techniques for a hybrid (distance and in-person combination) model in order to:

• Ensure that each student is engaged in their learning and that appropriate resources are offered to promote academic success
• Daily attendance and regular progress reporting including formative assessments
• Accessibility to student progress and grades
• Provide collaboration time for teachers to work in teams by department or grade level, and engage in course-alike curriculum development
• Teach online skills to students and families, including how to use devices and access materials, digital citizenship, and digital literacy
• Streamline technology platforms,learning management system, and gradebook, and clearly communicate the purpose of and how to access each platform 
• Attend to the mental health and wellness needs of our students, staff, and school community

We have scheduled a special Board of Education meeting at 6:00pm on August 3 to allow us to factor in the most up-to-date guidelines and introduce our finalized plan to the community.

As Santa Clara County officials stated in a special press conference on June 30, it is our actions as a community that will influence our ability to provide full-day in-person learning experiences. WE can’t wait to welcome back all of our learners!

Take care, be safe, and know our Culture of We keeps us moving forward together,  
​
Cheryl
Cheryl Jordan
Superintendent