DAILY UPDATE #146 -- 10/20/2020
 

  • NEW ITEMS
     
  • Q and A (Tuesday, October 20, 2020)
    Q:   I received an email from a parent on Thursday morning asking me when I was planning on implementing the new district grading policy. I was unsure what she was referring to but a quick google search found a UT article referencing a board decision from the prior Tuesday. This morning (Friday) I learned about the new board policy via the Principal's Update distributed last night. I support the new board policy. My question is not related to philosophy. My question is related to logistics. I plan to implement the policy at the beginning of Semester 2. This would give me time to discuss the changes with staff and parents. This also gives enough time for teachers to edit and re-submit their course syllabi for approval from administration. I am assuming this is acceptable because the timeline document states we will start to implement the new policy during the 2020-21 school year, but it does not go into further detail. If this is not considered acceptable then I would hope the district would provide additional guidance regarding implementation. On a related note, I am assuming the district does not expect this to be implemented immediately (Q1) because this would require teachers who currently alter grades for late assignments to spend time manually adjusting individual grades prior to the end of Q1 - which may be perceived as a workload issue. I also want to make sure I correctly understand the following statement included in the screencast and timeline - "Academic grades will be based solely on mastery of standards and should not be raised or lowered due to attendance, late submission of assignments, or behavior. However, persistent non-participation in synchronous formative assessments, group discussions, individual presentations or other live assignments may negatively impact a student’s grade." I interpret this to mean teachers can no longer factor participation into a student's academic grade, but during distance learning this is still acceptable but not encouraged. Can you help confirm my interpretation? I plan on holding off discussions with teachers until I am clear with what I am directing them to do.
    A:  (Answer provided by the district)    School sites should utilize a collaborative process for communicating the implementation of the new policy for Quarter 2 and beyond. In regards to online learning and participation, students who are not present during live sessions could miss formative or summative assessments that could impact their grade. Students will still need to be given make up opportunities for missed assessments/assignments.
     
  • DISTRICT COMMUNICATIONS
    The following communication was sent to principals on October 19:
     
  • STANDARDS-BASED GRADING POLICY - UPDATE
    • School Boards do have the authority to set the parameters for district grading policies that establish a system of student accountability that is fair, consistent and accurate.
      • Ed. Code section 49066 limits what may be changed after a grade is issued.
      • Educators can begin to implement the Board-adopted standards for both academic and citizenship marks as stated in the revised AR 5121 by focusing on the following for the 2020-21 school year:
        • Removing non-academic factors from the academic grade
        • Offering opportunities for revision and reassessment
    • Tomorrow’s Leadership Lab for Principals will provide secondary principals and vice principals time to discuss how to strategically and adaptively lead the implementation of the new policy.
    • Later this week, we will share details for upcoming voluntary Grading PD opportunities for educators. 
       
  • ATTENDANCE SCHOOL MESSENGER CALLS 
    • As requested by several principals, the automated attendance calls via SchoolMessenger will be re-enabled effective today, Monday, October 19th. Please refer to the email sent by IT.
    • Families will begin receiving calls if their student is marked absent on any given school day or period (for secondary schools) in PowerSchool. 
      • For information regarding SchoolMessenger automated attendance calls, please refer to the Communications Department SchoolMessenger Support links, under Automated Attendance Calls. 
      • For questions regarding SchoolMessenger, please contact the Communications Department at communications@sandi.net  or (619) 725-5578.
         
  • UPGRADED ZOOM LICENSES FOR SITES - UPDATED
    • We are pleased to announce that all VPs have been provided a paid account for Zoom. 
    • To verify, Vice Principals can sign into Zoom at http://sandiegounified.zoom.us/. 
      • From there, go to Profile and check license type. It should say “Licensed.” See example here. 
    • If by chance there are issues and they are not licensed, please reach out to droberts1@sandi.net
       
  • SPECIAL ED UPDATE 
  • OLA ELD COACHING CYCLE
    • In November, OLA will begin ELD coaching support to sites. 
    • We will collectively engage ELs through meaningful interactions designed to develop English proficiency.  
    • For more information please click on flyer. 
       
  • COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS
    • Let’s recognize SDUSD Counselors for their outstanding work! SDCOE is calling for nominations for the SDCOE Counselor of the Year by 10/30/2020.  
    • Please see the FLYER for additional information, qualifications, and the nomination form. 
    • Please contact Sharon Rubalcava for questions. 
       
  • NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP (NISL) EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 
    • SDUSD will again be partnering with NISL to provide the Executive Development Program to our site administrators as a voluntary year long professional development opportunity.  There are 25 seats available for the January 2021 cohort!  Application is due on November 20th. 
    • Information session for interested principals will be held on October 28th 2:00-3:30 p.m. via Zoom
    • The NISL EDP is the leading provider of school leadership development support in the country. NISL provides school leaders with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to design and lead high-performing systems by preparing leaders to serve as strategic thinkers, instructional leaders and creators of a just, fair and caring culture.
    • Interested in earning your doctorate? SDSU allows NISL grads to reduce the time to degree from three years to two years.
       
  • ELEMENTARY UPDATES
    Elementary Ops Handouts
  • SECONDARY UPDATES
    Advanced Studies Newsletter
    • Our Advanced Studies resource teacher, Rachel Amato, has created this newsletter that will be shared with site coordinators today. The newsletter includes information regarding:
      • PSAT
      • AP/IB Testing
      • Academic League
         
  • THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS (AFSA) INVITES YOU TO A TOWN HALL SESSION
    AFSA invites all AASD members in Good Standing and Affiliate/Retired Members who are AFSA Members to the following town hall session.
     
    "Principals and the Pandemic:  How School Leaders are Navigating COVID-19"
    Thursday, October 22, 2020 - 12 NOON TO 1PM (PST) 

    Register Now 

    Join representatives from AFSA, NAESP and NASSP in this open town hall session as they discuss the challenges principals are facing throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders also will examine schoolwide trends seen through the COVID-19 database, a live tracker of how schools are responding to the pandemic nationwide. This discussion will allow individuals the opportunity to ask questions directly of principals on the difficult decisions they are making to ensure the safety of their students and staff while providing access to the best learning opportunities possible.
     
    • Moderator:
      • Nicole Gaudiano, Education Reporter, Politico
         
    • Panelists:
      • Kimbrelle Barbosa Lewis, Principal, Cordova Elementary School, Cordova, Tennessee
      • Robert Motley, Principal, Atholton High School, Columbia, Maryland
      • Cesar Rivera, Principal, Samuels Elementary School, Denver, Colorado

         
  • REMINDERS
     
  • AASD/DISTRICT "HOTLINE" INFORMATION
    The hotline established with the District is available to AASD unit members and other management who are charged with enforcing the health and safety policies and procedures.  Call the hotline when you need immediate assistance when conflicts arise, clarification is needed, or decisions must be made regarding health and safety matters. 

    This hotline is for ALL AASD represented members, both classified and certificated.  The hotline phone number is     (619) 981-0760.  The hotline is available on all District workdays, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  In the rare event that a message must be left, all calls will be returned promptly, within the same day.
     
  • SPECIAL GRATITUDE
    If an AASD member has a department or individual that deserves special recognition during this time of crisis, please use the link below for reporting issues/questions/concerns/gratitude to show your gratitude for the department or individual.  AASD will publish that special thanks in our next Daily Update.
     
  • AASD OFFICE CLOSURE 
    AASD will be sending out a Daily Update, Monday-Friday, throughout the return to instruction/school reopening period.  The Weekly Update will continue as usual on Thursdays with the typical news and information for AASD members.  The AASD Office continues to remain closed.  AASD staff are working remotely and can be reached via the contact information at the end of this Update.

    AASD has created a Google Form for AASD Members to report issues, questions or concerns regarding work-related issues, COVID-19, return to instruction and school reopening.  AASD will provide answers to issues, questions or concerns submitted as answers become available.  You may also share your gratitude for another AASD member, district personnel, etc., via the same link.

    The link to share issues/questions/concerns/gratitude is:
    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVSsqBQSHboCdgqbnpaucUY--DHKjosG8MAmRuCxawzB4blg/viewform?usp=sf_link
     
    Please do not share this link outside of AASD membership (classified and certificated management/supervisors).  The link will be active until this crisis is over. 
     
    NOTE:  All previous AASD Daily Updates and Weekly Updates are located on the AASD Website www.aasdcs.org if you need to refer back to them for information.
     
  • DISTRICT WEBSITE
    For your convenience, the District has created a list of Frequently Asked Questions.  To access that list, click the link https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/covid19/staff-info
     
  • AASD CONTACT INFORMATION
    Executive Director, Donis Coronel -- donis@aasdcs.org   619-813-8792
    Office Manager, Linda Crout-Hamel --     linda@aasdcs.org   619-861-2701
    Office Clerk, Jim Costello --     jim@aasdcs.org 
     
    Please keep informed via the District’s website www.sandi.net, Daily Updates from AASD and via the AASD Website www.aasdcs.org.
     

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