Distance Learning and Corona / COVID-19 Virus Information (English Page)

The purpose of this webpage is to provide important communication and information regarding the coronavirus/COVID-19 virus and how it affects our students and staff.

We are working closely with the Ventura County Office of Education and Ventura County Public Health to stay informed of important information and procedures. Fillmore USD will be taking direction from Ventura County Public Health in regard to protocols we put into place, and we will update our Fillmore USD community on these protocols as they are recommended to us.

This webpage will be updated to provide any additional or new information on the situation.

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Subject: Fillmore Unified School District Update

Dear Fillmore USD Families,

The purpose of this communication is to provide information to district families about current actions to support district students and the status of future reopening of Fillmore USD schools.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES PROVIDES DIRECTION

During the School Board meeting on December 15, 2020, the Board was given an update about the effects of COVID-19 on the district and deliberated regarding potential options for our schools. As a result, the Fillmore Unified School District Board of Trustees directed that all elementary and secondary schools will remain in Distance Learning through January 29, 2021, except for K-5 SDC and Moderate/Severe (small group cohorts). We will be actively monitoring the case rates over the coming weeks to provide information and recommendations to the Board of Trustees during the month of January.

K-5 SPECIAL DAY CLASS AND MODERATE-SEVERE STUDENTS HYBRID AFTER WINTER BREAK

The students who are already attending in-person classes will return to school as previously planned, on January 5, 2021. These students will continue in a Hybrid Learning model with appropriate safety protocols in place. Our reopening included several physical changes to our campuses and in our day-to-day operations to ensure the continued health and safety of staff and students. Changes to our schools were as follows: detailed planning for classroom setup, restricting occupancy of rooms, new filters and programming for heating ventilation and air conditioning systems, screening protocols for staff and students (including temperature), and personal protective equipment for employees.

GENERAL EDUCATION K-12 STUDENTS STAY IN DISTANCE LEARNING

The Board of Trustees provided direction to staff to keep our Kindergarten – 12^th grade general education students in a Distance Learning model through January 29, 2021. Students and teachers will continue to work through the Microsoft Teams platform in synchronous learning, as well as utilize multiple curriculum and content providers to work during asynchronous time.

VENTURA COUNTY COVID-19 SITUATION

Ventura County is in the most restrictive purple tier as it pertains to coronavirus protocols and is part of a stay-at-home order. Today, Wednesday, December 16, 2020, the County of Ventura reported 497 new infections, and ICU bed capacity was 1.8%, according to the county. The total number of infections confirmed in the County of Ventura since early March reached 27,911 and 204 residents have died from the disease. Our District Nurses are following up on staff and students reporting potential exposure or symptoms.

GRAB AND GO MEALS WILL CONTINUE OVER WINTER BREAK

Date	Time	Schools
Monday, December 21	9:00 am to 11:00 am	· Mountain Vista · Rio Vista · Fillmore Middle School · Piru Elementary School
Tuesday, December 22	4:00 pm to 7:00 pm	· Fillmore Middle School · Piru Elementary School
Monday, December 28	9:00 am to 11:00 am	· Mountain Vista · Rio Vista · Fillmore Middle School · Piru Elementary School
Tuesday, December 29	4:00 pm to 7:00 pm	· Fillmore Middle School · Piru Elementary School
Monday, January 4	9:00 am to 11:00 am	· Mountain Vista · Rio Vista · Fillmore Middle School · Piru Elementary School
Wednesday, January 6	4:00 pm to 7:00 pm	· Fillmore Middle School · Piru Elementary School
Note: Food deliveries for families who have requested it will be made on Monday, December 21; Tuesday, December 29; and Tuesday, January 5.

In closing, I recognize that it has been over nine months since the first Stay at Home orders were issued resulting in the closing of our schools to in-person learning. In that time we have witnessed an ebb and flow of the virus with the biggest wave of infections upon us now. The time has come for all of us to do our part to stop the spread of this virus. I encourage all our district families to not gather with individuals from outside of your household, wear a face covering, and seek out testing if you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19.

Like many of you I envision a time when all of our students can return to school and we can once again celebrate our student athletes in competition, musical performances, promotion ceremonies, and graduations. We need to take action now if we want those moments to return. The current circumstances created as a result of this virus will not soon change if we do not adopt an equally stronger approach to eradicate this virus from our community. Please be safe during this holiday time and remember that it is up to each individual in our community to do their part.

Respectfully,

Adrian E. Palazuelos, Ph.D.

Superintendent