Board Connections     

Key highlights from the most recent meeting of the Board of Education. For a complete look at the agenda, please visit www.menifeeusd.org   

September 22, 2020

Appointment of MUSD Superintendent
The Menifee Union School District Board of Education is pleased to name distinguished educator, Dr. Jennifer Root, as the new Superintendent. Dr. Root’s career spans 27 years as an elementary and middle school teacher, assistant principal, principal, director, and assistant superintendent. Earlier this year, Dr. Root received the prestigious Robert Gray Service Award from the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) for her exceptional service and dedication to public education. In 2019, she was named Business Services Administrator of the Year in Orange County. Throughout her career, Dr. Root has continuously sought further professional development, obtaining degrees and certification in Organizational Change and Leadership, Business Management, School Administration, Language Development, and Psychology. Dr. Root is scheduled to report to duty in MUSD on Monday, October 19^th.

MUSD’s Path to Return to In Person Teaching and Learning

Interim Superintendent Dr. Gary Rutherford shared with the Board that Riverside County has entered the Red Tier on the CA State COVID Watch-list. This stage of the state’s framework (Substantial Risk) allows schools to reopen for on-campus instruction as early as two weeks from the date of release under strict conditions. These conditions include operating at no greater than 50% capacity with safety protocols in place (social distancing, face coverings, screening/ monitoring procedures, and cleaning/disinfecting practices).  In MUSD, these conditions can be met in the Hybrid AA/BB model, in which students attend school in cohort groups for two half-days each week, completing the week’s instruction in distance learning. When the county enters the Orange Tier (Moderate Risk) the Hybrid AA/BB model can transition to Traditional 5-days a week on-campus instruction, with safety enhancements.  A full-time Distance Learning+ enrollment will continue for families who do not choose to return to on-campus learning for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.

Next Step:  Parent/Employee Commitment Survey

The next step in re-opening our campuses is to reassign personnel and reconfigure student’s classroom assignments based on final enrollment decisions. To that end, a Commitment Survey will be pushed out next week to every parent and to each employee.  Participants will be required to commit to the Distance Learning+ or to In-Person instructional model to finish the 2020-21 school year.  Each respondent choosing the In-Person model will be asked for additional feedback to help the district finalize the design of that program to best meet the needs of our families and employees. For example, the district has the option of returning to Hybrid AA/BB as early as practicable, or continuing in Distance Learning+ with a return to full-time traditional instruction when the County reaches Orange Tier 3.  It is important to note that families with multiple children must complete a form for each student, reflecting his/her unique program needs.  The results of this Commitment Survey will be used by Administration to finalize a plan for the Governing Board’s consideration at the next meeting on October 13, 2020.

For the Record

The Perris Union High School District Board of Trustees approved the authorization to continue Distance Learning at PUHSD schools for an additional 6 weeks due to COVID-19. The PUHSD Board will revisit this subject after the next grading period in mid-November.

Next Regular Board Meeting: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at 4:30 PM

   Governing Board: Jackie Johansen . Kyle Root . Kenyon Jenkins . Robert “Bob” O’Donnell . Reg Bennett
  Interim Superintendent: Dr. Gary Rutherford