WVUSD Parent Questions/Answers During Covid-19 Closure

From the Walnut Valley Unified School District:

March 16, 2020

COVID-19 School Dismissal and Closure

Q: How long will schools be closed?

A: Beginning Monday, March 16, through the regularly scheduled Spring Break (Sunday, April 19), all schools will be dismissed and/or closed to students. This includes childcare, preschool, and all before and after school programs. We are working closely with Public Health as we continue to receive updates and guidelines from the State and Federal governments.

March 16 – March 18 School Dismissal (“Pupil Free”/no students)

March 19 – April 9 School CLOSURE (no students/no staff)

April 10 – April 17 Spring Break Recess

April 20 School Resume

Q: Are students or parent required to pick up personal belongings and school materials?

A: Each school site will communicate with parents on pick-up date(s) for necessary items (textbooks, materials, etc.) from the school campus. The pick-up dates will either be Tuesday, March 17, or Wednesday, March 18, or both dates. However, it is optional for parents and students to pick up materials.

Q: How can parents contact staff during the school dismissal/closure?

A: Through Wednesday, March 18, 2020, please contact the District office at (909) 595-1261 or email Dr. Jeanette Koh at jkoh@wvusd.k12.ca.us , if you have questions or need additional information.

In anticipation of school/district closure, we are preparing a web-based communication resource for the parent community to contact the district once all facilities are closed down. We will send out the information and post it on our District website by Thursday, March 19, 2020.

Please continue to monitor your email and the following WVUSD resources for information and updates:

• District website: https://www.wvusd.k12.ca.us/
• Twitter: @ WVUSD_Tweet
• Instagram @walnutvalleyusd
• School Websites

Q: How can my student have access to wifi during the dismissal/closure?

A: Charter Communications, citing the COVID-19 coronavirus situation, announced that it will open its WiFi hotspots across the country for public use, and will offer free Spectrum broadband service and WiFi access for 60 days to households with K-12 or college students that do not already have Spectrum broadband service at any level up to 100 Mbps. Please see attached file for more information.

School and Student Functions

Q: How will deadlines for the registration and selection of classes for the next level (i.e. 5th grade to 6th, 8th grade to 9th) be affected with the closure?

A: The Middle Schools and High Schools will be extending their deadline to ensure all students will be registered after re-opening of the schools. Please check the school’s website.

State test (CAASPP) results have been one of the multiple measures for student math placement for the next grade level. If state results are negatively impacted, we will consider suspending the state test as one of the measurements for the current school year. In subsequent years, state testing will be part of the multiple measurements for math placement.

Q: Will students receive an extension to register for Grade Level Coordinator (GLC) summer appointments for the high schools?

A: Yes, both high schools will communicate and post on their websites about GLC summer appointments.

1. How will the school closure affect my child’s WVUSD summer school registration at the high schools?

A: Please check the high school’s websites for information on dates.

Q: Will parents be reimbursed for purchased tickets to cancelled school events and field trips?

A: Each school will work with its organizations to refund purchased tickets for school events. Many of the organizations hosting fieldtrips have already cancelled the activity. Schools are working with various entities to address possible reimbursements. This process will require some time, considering the complete closure of school, and any refunds will be made at a point in time after re-opening of school.

Student Learning

Q: How will the closure affect my student’s grades in their current classes?

A: Student grades are on pause as of Friday, March 13, 2020.

Q: What learning will occur while school is dismissed/closed?

A: District and Schools will send out information for learning and enrichment curriculum resources that will be available on the websites later this week. Our goal is to provide District-wide learning resources for all TK-12 students. Resources will be available in both electronic and hard copy formats. Resources are not assignments for students to complete for a grade.

Q: Will students be prepared for next year’s math content?

A: Teachers have taught the majority of the math standards this school year. Teachers have been reviewing the math standards with students to prepare for the annual state testing (CAASPP).

Q: Will my student and I be required to attend a scheduled Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting during school dismissal/closure?

A: All IEP meetings are cancelled during the period of school dismissal/closure. New meeting dates will be established after the re-opening of the schools.

Q: Will my student in a Credit Recovery program continue to earn credits during this school dismissal/closure?

A: All credit recovery is on pause at this time. Credit Recovery work will begin after schools reopen.

Q: Will students on short-term independent study (coordinated directly through a student’s home school) continue during the dismissal/closure?

A: This temporary option, selected by a number of parents and students in the last few weeks due to COVID-19 concerns, ends with the dismissal/closure starting March 16, 2020. When school reopens, students are to turn in their Independent Study assignments that were completed up to March 13, 2020.

Q: Will students enrolled in the district Independent Study Program and Home Hospital, facilitated through Ron Hockwalt Academies, continue in the program?

A: These programs are on pause during the school dismissal/closure.

Q: Will schools be extending the school year into the summer months?

A: At this time, the number of days required for a school year has been waived by the State of California. Schools will not be extended into the summer months.

Q: Will the annual state testing (CAASPP/ELPAC) take place?

A: At this point, the US Department of Education is considering a one-year waiver of assessments impacted by COVID-19.

Q: Will Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) testing take place?

A: The district and schools have not yet been officially informed of The College Board (for AP tests) or IB plans for testing. Please monitor these organizations’ websites for announcements during this school closure.

All AP content has been taught at both of our high schools. At this point, students have the opportunity to review the content in preparation for the upcoming AP test. We will continue to update parents as information becomes available.

School Promotion and Graduation Ceremonies

Q: Will there be promotion and graduation events?

A: At this time, promotion and graduation events are still scheduled. Schools and the district will continue to update parents and students, as information becomes available.

Nutrition Services

Q: Will WVUSD serve student meals during school closure?

A: Meals will be provided free for any interested students at centralized locations beginning Monday, March 16, 2020. Nutrition Services sent out more information on locations and times and the information is on our website.

Meals are available to children ages 18 and under, and can be obtained through a drive-thru service at designated locations to allow for maximum efficiency and safety. For students and families without vehicle transportation, a walk-up “Grab & Go” pick up method will be available. Children must be physically present for either method and do not need to exit the vehicle. All meals must be taken and eaten off-site; there will be no congregating at these locations. Children do NOT need to be students of WVUSD to receive meals. Meals will be provided at no cost to the families.

Time frame for this service is 7:30am-10:00am. Locations will be the main parking lots of the following schools:

Walnut High School – Staff parking lot (400 N. Pierre Rd. Walnut, 91789)

Diamond Bar High School – In front of the gym. (21400 Pathfinder Rd. Diamond Bar, 91765)

This press release was produced by the Walnut Valley Unified School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.