BUSD Emergency Procedures During Distance Learning And ED Hub Closure 8/21 And 8/24

Press release from Berkeley Public Schools:

August 20, 2020

Nuestro “Ed Hub” (centro de distribución) estará cerrado viernes 21 y lunes 24 de agosto

Dear BUSD Parents and Caregivers,

As we continue to adapt to the current situation of Distance Learning, remote working and COVID-19, we are also facing some environmental challenges that we’ve confronted in prior years, including air quality alerts and power outages. These issues have different implications for distance learning and remote working situations. Following is some updated guidance to help you navigate these additional challenges with your students.

SIGN UP FOR EMERGENCY ALERTS

The City of Berkeley Fire Department encourages all of us to sign up for emergency alerts.

The Ed Hub will be closed on Friday, August 20 and Monday, August 24: The Ed Hub at the Berkeley Adult School, which is the site for distributing Chromebooks and other school supplies, is run in collaboration with the Berkeley Public Schools Fund. Usually open Monday and Friday from 12:00 – 2 pm, and Wednesday from 3:30 – 5:30 pm, the Ed Hub will be closed on Friday, August 21 and Monday, August 24. We are running low on Chromebooks and have run out of hotspots. We anticipate being able to supply hotspots later next week, but Chromebook supplies are more challenging. If you have borrowed a Chromebook but are able to purchase one of your own, we would appreciate it if you could return your loan to the Ed Hub so we can get them to families who are unable to afford them.

ED HUB AIR QUALITY CLOSURES

The Ed Hub will not operate when Berkeley is experiencing “red” AQI conditions. Under orange conditions, we may need to call on additional volunteers to stay open. We will use AQI forecasts and other local information to make an early decision in order to inform the community.

WILDFIRE SMOKE

Today, August 20, the East Bay region is experiencing smoke from area wildfires. We are monitoring local and regional measures of air pollutants–the Air Quality Index (AQI). The map below shows a color-coded AQI map from this morning.

AIR QUALITY GUIDANCE

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) provides the most local Berkeley air quality data. Here is a link to today’s BAAQMD data. The report this morning shows AQI levels in the moderate level, color-coded yellow, at Aquatic Park. The current AQI reading is “green,” but likely to change based on forecasts.

You may also see reporting from AirNow.Gov, which uses a regional number that is updated hourly, based on a station in East Oakland. It tends to be updated more frequently than the local Berkeley number, which may lag by two or three hours. If you go to the AirNow site and input Berkeley as your location, you will see a number that is actually generated in Oakland. That regional number yesterday was in the orange or red when Berkeley numbers were in the yellow.

Although it’s helpful to have a more regional view of AQI levels, especially when we are spread out during distance learning, we’ve confirmed with Berkeley Public Health that the local BAAQMD station in Berkeley is the best AQI number to use in general. We will also monitor trends on the regional level and seek public agency forecast guidance where available.

GUIDELINES for DISTANCE LEARNING DURING AIR QUALITY ADVISORIES

Distance Learning will continue during most air quality advisories, but with modifications to student and/or staff assignments to be considered at the “orange” level and above.

CDE has provided guidelines for air quality for in-person school which provides a helpful starting point. As you’ll note below, when conditions reach the orange zone or above for Berkeley, the district will send out an alert and reminder of distance learning activity restrictions.

PLEASE NOTE: During distance learning, staff and families who are doing their work from a remote location outside of Berkeley should be aware that air quality at their location may be different from the AQI readings for Berkeley and should consult the BAAQMD station closest to their home or work location.

POWER OUTAGES

Electricity could be interrupted during Distance Learning for a variety of reasons, including a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), a rolling blackout due to a heat wave, or other local conditions.

If a teacher is affected by a power outage and is not able to teach remotely, the District will make every effort to provide a substitute. In the event the emergency situation doesn’t allow time for a substitute, students are asked to do their assigned work during their class time.

If a power outage prevents a student from joining an online class or completing assignments, families should contact their school’s administrative assistant when they are able to, and inform the school of the reason for the absence.

DISRUPTION TO LEARNING

In the event of sustained area-wide power outages or other environmental disruptions such that school activities cannot be conducted, the District will apply to the State for an attendance waiver and all students will be excused.

It is also possible that a family or BUSD employee may need to evacuate from their home outside of Berkeley due to the threat of wildfire. In this case, BUSD wants everyone to tend to family safety as a first priority.

Thank you for your attention to this advisory. We hope that conditions will improve, but we must be ready to adapt during California fire season.

Brent Stephens
Superintendent

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