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Board Connections for August 25, 2020
BOARD CONNECTIONS: A brief review of key highlights from the most recent meeting of the Board of Education.
August 25, 2020
Update: Waiver to Apply for In-Person Learning
Interim Superintendent Dr. Gary Rutherford provided an update regarding Riverside County’s recent announcement that it would start accepting waiver requests from school districts that want to offer in-person instruction at elementary schools. A waiver application will not be approved if the countywide COVID-19 rate is 200 or higher per 100,000 population; the current rate is 170 as of August 21. The application process requires consultation with representative parent groups, employee associations, and the Board of Education. A detailed Reopening Plan must be in place that addresses cleaning and disinfection protocols, keeping students in small, stable groups with fixed membership, control of movement within the school to avoid close contact, face coverings and other protective gear, health screenings, staff and family education, as well as other prescribed elements.
Dr. Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer, has the responsibility of reviewing and approving waiver applications. In a press release, he stated, “The waiver process won’t be a rubber stamp, and elementary schools will be required to publicly demonstrate they have the pieces in place to operate safely or they won’t be approved. We want exposure rates to be rare and, should an exposure occur, for the school to show they can handle it without putting others at risk.” MUSD remains committed to a phased return to in-person instruction as soon as it is deemed safe to do so. The waiver application is being reviewed as part of the district’s ongoing 2020-21 school year reopening and safety planning process.
Education Budget Cleanup Trailer Bill Introduced
Senate Bill 820 was introduced on August 22 as the Education Budget Cleanup Trailer Bill. One of the provisions of the adopted state budget resulted in an adverse impact on school districts and charters that projected growth for the 2020-21 school year due to funding limited to last year’s average daily attendance rate. With this revision, districts projecting growth, like MUSD, will be funded up to the level projected in the budget adopted in June. In other positive news, deadlines for spending special COVID relief funds will be extended to allow time for more thoughtful and targeted spending. The bill is expected to work its way through the state legislature without opposition.
Childcare Vendors’ License Agreement Approved
The Governing Board took action to approve the contract for “Catalyst Kids” (formerly known as the Child Development Center) to reopen childcare at Quail Valley and Oak Meadows school sites. MUSD has been working closely with its childcare partners to ensure the safe reopening of centers that follow all new guidelines for COVID-19 precautions. Contracts for our remaining childcare providers are pending and we anticipate others will be on the agenda at the next regular board meeting.
