BUSD Schools Shutdown Update: March 13 / Mensaje Será Disponible En Español Próximamente

From Berkeley Public Schools:

March 13, 2020

Dear Berkeley Families,

Last night, Berkeley joined a growing number of school districts and states that have closed due to the extraordinary coronavirus pandemic taking place across the globe. BUSD’s school closure will last from March 16 – March 27, and will be followed by our regularly scheduled Spring Break, from March 30 – April 3. If possible, class will resume on April 6.

This evening, Friday at 6:00 pm, the Board of Education will meet to adopt an emergency resolution about the coronavirus epidemic. On Monday evening March 16 at 7:30 pm, the Berkeley School Board will hold a special meeting to continue to deliberate in the open about the current health crisis. Both meetings will be livestreamed on the BUSD YouTube channel.

Please know how appreciative we are of the patience and goodwill that so many people are exhibiting in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. These are unprecedented circumstances that bring very deep wells of emotion, anxiety, and worry. However, we’ve already been contacted by dozens of students, parents, and community members – as well as Mayor Arreguín and our City of Berkeley partners – with offers to help. We will communicate more soon about opportunities to contribute to this effort.

With this letter, I want to share more about what will happen now that school has closed.

Take-away Breakfast and Lunch for Students

BUSD’s Nutrition Services will remain open, unless directed to close by health officials. BUSD will continue to serve breakfast and lunches at King Middle School and BAM, Rosa Parks, Longfellow, Willard, and Berkeley High School.. These meals will be for take-out only, and the cafeteria will not be open. The schedule is posted on our website,

Home Learning Resources

We are working with our educators to prepare to support student learning when we are closed. This experience will not be the same as going to school, and our schools’ regular instructional program – with assignments, grades, tests, and assessments – is suspended during this period. This means no teacher will be permitted to issue grades or “for credit” assignments, and no student will be penalized academically during this period. This will apply to all grade levels and all courses in BUSD.

Starting on Monday, March 16, optional Home Learning Resources can be accessed on our website, berkeleyschools.net. Directions on the website will guide students and parents to grade-level activities.

We will have a small voluntary team of teachers working in our central office during the closure period to offer an ongoing set of new ideas for home learning. We will continue to add to the resources for students and families, which can be used on a voluntary basis. This will include free online resources and educational games; reading materials; and grade-level specific activities.

Some teachers may choose to supplement these lists of voluntary, optional activities with additional suggestions, but these suggestions from teachers, as well as any other voluntary work by students, will not count for credit.

Teachers will not be expected to respond to emails during this period, although some of our educators will choose to be accessible to students and families. Like all of us, our employees will also be contending with the impact of the outbreak on their own families and communities.

Additional Information about School Programs

During the period from March 16 – April 3, please note the following:

1. Transportation to and from the school will be discontinued
2. The BEARS and LEARNS program will also be closed
3. All Berkeley Adult School programs will be closed
4. All facilities rentals are cancelled
5. All athletics games and practices are suspended

The District Office is Closed to the Public

District Office leadership, and some BUSD staff are required to remain at work to perform duties that are essential to the district for some or all of the closure. However, the District Office will be closed to the public. Please visit the BUSD website at www.berkeleyschools.net for contact information for our district office departments.

Important Social Distancing Guidance

City of Berkeley Public Health continues to help us assess social distancing guidance and other health agency directives. We are appreciative they provided information for our School Board at this week’s meeting and we look forward to their continued partnership as the coronavirus situation develops. “While this was not a public health recommendation, we know BUSD weighed many complex factors in its decision to close,” said Dr. Lisa Hernandez, the City of Berkeley’s Health Officer. “We will continue to partner with them as we work to slow the spread of COVID-19.”

Dr. Hernandez advises everyone to continue to follow these important guidelines:

• WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY
• COVER YOUR COUGH
• STAY HOME AND AWAY FROM OTHERS WHEN ILL

Dr. Hernandez also emphasizes that while school is out, it is very important that everyone engage in “social distancing” to prevent the spread of the virus.

• STAY HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE (EVEN IF NOT FEELING ILL)
• AVOID GATHERINGS
• STAY AWAY FROM OLDER ADULTS, such as grandparents, as well as those with chronic health conditions

You can also stay up to date on the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation at cityofberkeley.info/coronavirus.

Know also that our county partners will continue to be a resource to the District. The Alameda County Office of Education will provide critical guidance as we navigate this extraordinary situation. “Our school and district leaders and their communities are faced with numerous difficult and unprecedented decisions and I stand with them as they navigate what is best for their students, staff, and families,” said Karen Monroe, Alameda County Superintendent of Schools.

Please look for ongoing communication from BUSD over the ensuing weeks. Thank you again for your commitment to our community and the efforts you make to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Sincerely,

Brent Stephens, Ed.D.
Superintendent

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