As Alameda County Moves Into Red Tier, Further Progress Toward Eventual Reopening Of Schools

Press release from Berkeley Public Schools:

September 25, 2020

Dear BUSD Community,

As this week ends, there is significant news to report about progress toward an eventual reopening of BUSD schools.

Alameda County moves into “Red Tier”
This week the Alameda County Office of Education (ACOE) responded to the news that Alameda County’s COVID-19 rates have placed the County in the “substantial” Tier 2 (red), which could mean that schools may eventually be permitted to reopen for in-person learning, although any reopening will be subject to restrictions to protect the health and safety of students and staff.

Measured and Phased Approach for School Reopening
At this time, with many health preparations still in progress, and local disease status yet to stabilize at lower levels, BUSD is not yet in a position to provide a date for wider campus reopening.

Alameda County Superintendent of Schools L. Karen Monroe signalled the need to take a “measured and phased approach.” ACOE will issue a revised plan for schools after October 6, and continues to underscore the necessity for re-opening plans that include facilities modifications, testing and contact tracing protocols, staffing plans and collective bargaining agreements.

City of Berkeley Makes Schools a Top Priority
Meanwhile, City of Berkeley Health Officer Dr. Lisa Hernandez confirmed in a press release on September 24 that a safe reopening of schools is a top priority. The City is expected to issue revised health orders pertaining to schools in early October, and will continue to monitor local health data and collaborate with schools on plans.

BUSD Focus on Cohort-based Supports and Activities for early October
Current guidance permits BUSD to provide in-person options for mandatory assessments, college board testing, specialized supports, limited afterschool programs and youth sports conditioning. While some staffing and protocols remain to be finalized, an early to mid-October date for some of these services is expected, and will be announced by relevant departments.

BUSD Making Progress on Essentials for Wider Reopening
BUSD continues to follow the public health guidance established by local, county, state, and federal agencies in order to protect the health of students, their families, and staff as we work toward providing in-person learning options, and we are making real progress on these preparations, including:

• Identifying a new database for daily health screening and contact tracing, which we anticipate will be operational by mid-October
• Delivery of portable HEPA air filters for all BUSD classrooms over the next three weeks, starting with BHS this week
• Placement of updated COVID signage in BUSD schools, starting this week
• Hiring and training new district nursing staff to coordinate any future COVID case investigations with the City of Berkeley
• Identifying a set of employee training resources to be ready in 2-3 weeks that can be used for an eventual reopening
• Identifying a possible COVID testing partner for the district in order to comply with state surveillance testing requirements
• Developing clear and careful protocols for on-campus activity, which we anticipate beginning to use starting on October 5 for the BHS Athletic Conditioning program.
• Completion of the project to install touchless faucets in all Early Education and elementary classrooms
• Completion of BUSD’s stores of PPE for students and staff
• Completion of the installation of plexiglass partitions in all school offices

These steps, together with reduced levels of community spread, will take us closer to the possibility of a broader reopening.

Further Possibilities to Emerge After October 6
We expect to receive further guidance from both local health officers and the County Office of Education around October 6.

If local community COVID spread continues to drop, and as BUSD continues to make progress with providing the required protocols and staffing plans, a phased return to a hybrid (on and off-campus) program could be possible over the next few months.

Meanwhile, it’s important that we all do our part to reduce community spread so that this hope becomes a reality.

Sincerely,

Brent Stephens
Superintendent

This press release was produced by Berkeley Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.