DAILY UPDATE #174 -- 12/09/2020
 

• NEW ITEMS
   
• Q and A (Wednesday, December 9, 2020)
  Q:  I am concerned that with the rise in COVID cases, and the state issuing strict Stay-at-Home orders, we are still being forced to continue with Phase 1! I wanted to stop it at my site, but was told by my area superintendent that I could not. Only the board can make that decision. I feel that I am being forced to put myself, my staff, and students in harm’s way!
  A:  (Answer provided by the District)    San Diego Unified does not have the same COVID-19 case rates as compared to the COVID-19 case rates in LAUSD. We continue to closely monitor cases via contact tracing, and work with the county health department.  State Guidelines continue to allow our District to have appointment-based learning. We have implemented strict precautions around health and safety and to add another layer of safety, we will begin our testing program next week. Our district recommendations include to continue all health and safety protocols at sites.  We continue to have no known case transmissions at schools.
   
  Q:  Is there a reason why we are still offering Phase 1 Appointment- Based Learning when everything is shutting down? As the site administrator, I find that I have to be on campus on the days that this is offered, since my site has been offered visiting teachers and someone needs to be there to direct them. At what point do we stop offering Appointment-Based Learning during the regional shut down to keep administrators and visiting teachers safe?
  A:  (Answer provided by the District)   From the start of the COVID Crisis, our strategy has been to follow the best available science in order to protect the Health & Safety of our students and staff.  For that reason, we convened experts from UC San Diego in August to advise us on our reopening protocols. Their advice is available on our District's website for a gradual reopening in Phases starting with our youngest students, an effort that began in October 15, and has expanded to include middle, high and preschool students with appointment-based learning. The purpose of this gradual approach is to ensure that every step implemented is a safe measure to prevent COVID spread. San Diego Unified does not have the same COVID-19 case rates as compared to the COVID-19 case rates in LAUSD. We continue to closely monitor cases via contact tracing in collaboration with the SD County Health Department.  State Guidelines continue to allow our District to have Appointment-Based Learning. We have implemented strict precautions around Health and Safety and to add another layer of safety, we will begin our testing program next week. Our district recommendations include to continue all Health and Safety protocols at sites.  We continue to have no known case transmissions at schools.
   
• DISTRICT COMMUNICATIONS
  
  The following communication was sent to principals on December 8:
   
• FINANCE/ACCOUNTS PAYABLE - VENDOR PAY CYCLE
  • The Accounts Payable department will be continuing the practice of suspending vendor pay cycle processing for two weeks during Winter Break 2020.
  • Please confirm that all invoices requiring payment by 12/31/2020 (e.g., grant/expiring resource invoices) are received in A/P before Friday, 12/11/2020. 
  • Please refer to the A/P Vendor Pay Cycle Schedule–Winter Break 2020 Memo. 
     
• ADL RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY INFORMATION  
  • Please read this memo with information from ADL (Anti-Defamation League) to help sites navigate the “December Dilemma,” when many different religious holidays are observed and schools may want to know how to respectfully and legally address them. 
  • The underlying principle concerning public religious displays and events is fairly simple: a public school must never appear to endorse or disapprove of one particular religion or religion in general. 
  • ADL advises that the classroom can be used to teach about religious holidays, but should not encourage the celebration of one religious holiday over another.
     
• SECONDARY UPDATES
  Arts Ignite! Residencies
  • 8th grade ELA and HSS teachers, come up for some AIR this spring! 
  • Arts Ignite! Residencies (AIR) provide 8th grade students at Title I middle schools with rich, arts integrated units of study in ELA and HSS.
  • In this centrally funded program, standards-based lessons developed in collaboration with VAPA Resource Teachers are taught synchronously online by professional teaching artists, 45 minutes per week throughout an 8 week residency. 
  • Teachers APPLY HERE soon, these limited residencies (3rd and 4th quarter cohorts) are available on a first come, first served basis. For more information contact VAPA Program Manager Tim Benson.
    
     
• 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.
   
• CONTACTS
  AASD Board of Directors - http://aasdcs.org/board-of-directors/
  AASD Office Staff - http://aasdcs.org/staff/