DAILY UPDATE #173 -- 12/08/2020
 

  • NEW ITEMS
     
  • Q and A
     
    Q:  Regarding the question/response in a previous Daily Update to the request for the district to please set up a Nursing Hotline for staff/families to access accurate health/covid guidance during evenings/holidays/breaks: The district reply was the following, ..."there is a district email (sdusdnursing@sandi.net<mailto:sdusdnursing@sandi.net>) that has been established to provide a system for staff and community members to share information, ask questions, and receive resources. This email is monitored throughout the day, including weekends and breaks."  Saturday, 12/5, a fellow principal emailed the address given at approximately 9:15am this morning, and as of 5:30pm Sunday, the email was still not answered. We respectfully ask for more support during this pandemic. Thank you.
    A:  (Answer provided by the District)   Yes, there is a district email (sdusdnursing@sandi.net) that has been established to provide a system for staff and community members to share information, ask questions, and receive resources. This email is monitored throughout the day, including weekends and breaks.  Thank you for the feedback.  We are assessing our weekend monitoring and will work to get responses in a more timely manner.

     
  • DISTRICT COMMUNICATIONS
    The following communication was sent to principals on December 7:
     
    OUR COMMITTMENT TO CREATING AN ANTI-BIASED ANTI-RACIST SCHOOL DISTRICT
  • Thank you for the work you are leading at your schools with your students and staff to advance the issue of racial justice. Our commitment to this critical work is stronger than ever. 
  • This morning, Board Vice President Richard Barrera posted a strong defense of our racial justice work on Facebook in response to recent attacks by a partisan blogger in New York City. Some of the exchange has made its way to different media outlets like the New York Post. 
    1. Here is an excerpt from Vice President Barrera’s response:
  • During the Senate battle over the 1964 civil rights act, Minority Leader Everett Dirksen, argued for passage, saying, nothing is so powerful as an idea whose time has come. The original line from Victor Hugo was, “Stronger than all the armies, is an idea whose time has come.” Most Americans believe the time has long since come for racial justice. Just as most of the world was rightfully horrified by the murder of George Floyd on Memorial Day. This weekend, we were sadly reminded that most does not mean all. Last week, a conservative blogger posted an inaccurate story on our racial justice work. … In a nation as divided as ours, no opportunity for dialogue should ever be ignored. Just as we worked to train our teachers on talking to students about race, we have provided materials for parents to do the same. We’d like to take this opportunity to once again share these with the public in the hope of moving our city and our country forward.
  • If you’ve received any inquiries about this work, please feel free to forward those to the Office of Quality Assurance. As always, your Area Superintendents are available to discuss any of these issues in more detail.

    RECLASSIFICATION
  • The State has notified districts that the extension to reclassify students using Spring 2019 Summative ELPAC scores will expire December 15, 2020. 
  • OLA will be emailing sites with the names of students who are eligible for this extension and qualify to reclassify.
  • Reclassification documentation must be completed and returned to OLA electronically by December 11, 2020 for processing

    PARENTS AS PARTNERS 
  • Please share the following information to your families inviting them to the Parents as Partners session this week. The focus of this meeting is on Wellness and Self-Care. 
    • December 9, 2020 from 5:30- 6:45 pm. Flyer Links:  English and Spanish

      GUIDANCE ON SCHOOL SITE DISTRIBUTION OR COLLECTION OF ITEMS 
    • Essential distributions can be done safely following recommendations provided by Dr. Howard Taras. 
      • These distributions include items such as food, clothing, computers, yearbooks and/or any other items that may be essential for family or student wellbeing. Please see this memo from Dr. Taras here. 
      • For additional questions, please contact Susan Barndollar or Drew Rowlands.
         
        SECONDARY UPDATES

        Potential PD for Standards-Based Grading

      • The district is exploring a partnership with Marzano Research to offer a professional development series for secondary schools to assist with the transition to standards-based grading. Marzano Research has extensive experience in supporting districts and systems with standards-based teaching and learning. The proposed series would include:
        • 4 sessions on January 6th, February 3rd, March 10th, and May 19th
        • Morning sessions from 8:30-11:30am for site administrators that focuses on the leadership perspective of implementation
        • 3 hour afternoon sessions (exact times TBD) for administrators and their site team of 4-5 educators that focuses on the practitioner perspective
        • This series would be open to 24 secondary schools
        • Please fill out this interest form by Friday, Dec. 11th.

          Strategies for Addressing D/F Grades During Online Learning
        • The following document was created to help Secondary sites strategize ways to address students who are struggling to pass their courses: 5 Strategies for Addressing Failure Rates During Online Learning
        • A Special Office Hours will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 9th, at 2:30pm to brainstorm additional strategies that could be implemented at school sites
        • Zoom Link, Meeting ID: 868 1439 2800


           
  • 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.

    An AASD Member in Good Standing shares the following gratitude -  “I would like to thank Food Services Labor Managers Bernie Kacijancik and Jessica Keene for their support of all Food Services employees.  Since the beginning of the pandemic, they have worked hard to ensure our safety and wellness while still providing a quality food distribution program.  Thank you!”
     
  • OTHER NEWS
    SDUSD’s Richard Barrera reacts to NY Post story revealing white privilege training (KUSI, December 7)
    https://www.kusi.com/sdusds-richard-barrera-reacts-to-ny-post-story-revealing-white-privilege-training/
     
    Teachers should be a priority for COVID vaccine, unions say (Politico, December 3)
    https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/03/covid-vaccine-teachers-union-442780
     
  • 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.

     
  • 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.
     
  • CONTACTS
    AASD Board of Directors - http://aasdcs.org/board-of-directors/
    AASD Office Staff - http://aasdcs.org/staff/
     
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