Superintendent's Message re Reopening Proposal

The PAUSD reopening plan will maintain a degree of fluidity as revised rules and regulations are presented by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department (SCCPHD). The transition reopening plan was approved by the PAUSD Board of Education on July 3.

PAUSD is using the Santa Clara County Public Health Department (SCCPHD) guidelines to inform all decisions. Read the complete guidelines from July 1, 2020. The District will utilize the guidelines to create template notification letters, determine hygiene protocols, and create proper spacing and flow of movement throughout the day. Specific elements of the guidelines to be used by PAUSD can be found in our FAQ section.

The mental and physical health of our students and staff are our top priority. We are all concerned about creating an environment that is void of joy and social interactions. Our elementary school students will return to a hybrid program until we are able to fully serve all students on campus at the same time. Due to different dynamics, our secondary schools will open through distance-learning. Opportunities will exist for students to be on site for specific purposes. Safe social interactions are an important part of reopening schools fully after evaluating our progress and conditions.

PAUSD will put reasonable safeguards in place to reopen our schools. We have leaned heavily on the SCCPHD guidelines and made educational decisions at the local level in collaboration with our staff, families, and calibration with surrounding school districts. It is possible that we will be forced to shift between instructional delivery models if conditions change throughout the year. We will be better prepared for shifts this year.

Thank you to everyone who is part of our team. We didn't choose this path, but we will be ready for where it takes us!

Sincerely,
Don Austin

Important Dates and Checkpoints

Jul 3	Board of Education takes action on reopening plan
Jul 8	Elementary parents receive registration confirmation to select hybrid or distance program
Jul 17	Window to select hybrid or distance program closes
Jul 31	Distance learning number of teachers are solidified, and classes are created
Aug 5	Elementary students in hybrid program receive their assigned group (A or B)
Aug 17	Students return
Sep 11	Parents will receive status updates each Friday beginning on September 11 with a minimum of one week notice before significant program revisions are implemented
Nov 6	At the completion of the first trimester, elementary school families may select in-person instruction and select out of distance learning.