Newark Community Extended Distance Learning For Remainder Of Year

Press release from the Newark Unified School District:

April 1, 2020

Dear Newark USD Community,

We hope you are enjoying spring break. We had not intended to provide a communication during the break, but we want to make sure we’re sharing recent developments with our community. Today all Alameda County Superintendents held a virtual meeting with County Superintendent Karen Monroe to discuss our next steps as a county. Today I am sharing that Newark Unified School District, like all other Alameda County School Districts, will be extending distance learning for the remainder of the school year. I know this is not the news we wanted to share but also know that we must work together as a community to keep our students, families, staff and our whole community safe. What follows is Karen Monroe’s statement. Thank you for your support and I will be sharing more information in the coming days about grading, distance learning and support for our students.

In Community,

Leticia Salinas, Acting Superintendent

STATEMENT FROM ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS L. KAREN MONROE

Following the Governor’s press conference earlier today, it is now clear that California’s schools will be engaged in distance learning for the remainder of the school year.

Our students’ learning and our teachers’ instruction, however, is not ending. Every day of instruction matters, no matter whether it takes place in a classroom or at the kitchen table. There is no question this puts an even bigger burden on families at a time when anxiety is already high. Asking parents and caregivers to take on the daunting task of supporting learning experiences that our incredible, professional teachers normally provide – on top of their needs that many of our families have to continue their own work responsibilities or to ensure their bills can be paid – adds even more stress to everyday home life.

We remain united with our six regional counties in placing the health and learning needs of our students front and center. To that end, school sites may remain open to staff for the purposes of performing tasks deemed essential by school districts and county offices of education. Schools will continue to prioritize childcare for our emergency workers and ongoing meal distribution for our students and families who rely on this crucial service.

The State will soon provide guidance on grading and graduation requirements for school districts. It is important that these issues are addressed as soon as possible to assist students and families, as well as our school districts, who have been wrestling with these and many other questions.

Schools still play a vital role in our communities. That much will not change in these ever-changing days.

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