Superintendent Randy Booker on Wednesday gave school board trustees an update on opening plans, saying the district is excitedly preparing for a return to full-time and in-person school on August 9. Masking will be required indoors, but students may, at their discretion, remove them when outdoors, he said.
Other items of note:
— Elementary schools are now fully staffed. Piedmont Middle School has one special education resource specialist position open. Piedmont High School is still looking for instructors in computer science, biology, and math. Booker reported that a candidate for the computer science position was being interviewed that day but that other candidates have turned down offers from PUSD, citing reasons such as the commute, pay and benefits, and cost of living. While there have been applicants for the computer science and biology positions, there have been no applications for the math position, and the district continues to look for candidates.
— There are no mandates around social (physical) distancing in classrooms. Booker said this appeared to be a deliberate decision by the California Department of Public Health to make sure all students can return to school.
— Only two families in the entire district have indicated that they want to opt for independent study next year. Booker said PUSD is looking to work with another school district — to be announced soon — on this program.
— Families will begin to receive back-to-school details from school sites and teachers starting the week of August 2.
— Bell schedules are now posted on all school site websites.
— PUSD is closely following California Department of Public Health updates and the evolving COVID situation.
The next school board meeting is August 11. It will be a hybrid meeting with trustees meeting in city hall chambers but participants welcome via Zoom.