Like many others, our family wanted to add our gratitude regarding the return to in-person classes for K through 6th at PUSD schools and its plans to return all other grades. Although in-person hours remain extremely limited, the impact has been immediate and incredibly positive. Thank you to all who have worked so hard to make this happen, especially our teachers and staff.
We also thank PUSD for taking an important first step to address its past lack of transparency and communication failures with the new Piedmont Ahead. Piedmonters should visit this website regularly, as it often includes important details that may not be mentioned in the weekly PUSD emails sent to district parents. This week a timely “Question of the Week” was included – What is the district doing to plan for fall re-opening?
In its answer, the District announced that it is developing plans for the 2021/2022 school year based on 5 different scenarios, which range from full-time in-person to full-time distant learning. In particular, two articulated scenarios allow for in-person schooling, while requiring adherence to social distancing of 4 feet (per current CDC guidelines and as currently allowed by Alameda County ) or 6 feet (as currently required under MOUs with the PUSD unions, which MOUs are set to expire this June).
The difference of two feet could create significant hurdles to accomplishing a return to full-time in-person learning, especially for PMS given its space constraints.
We would strongly encourage all concerned parents to attend the March 24th PUSD Board meeting to better understand how the Board and superintendent intend to advocate for Piedmonters, students, faculty and staff. We will be speaking up in support of finding creating solutions to guarantee a return to full-time in-person learning in the Fall. It is our hope that Mr. Booker and the Board will bring a level of leadership, transparency and creativity so that, as a community, we can rise to the challenge.
Together, we can find a way to return safely to full-time in-person learning this fall. Our children deserve nothing less.