Schools
Novato Unified School District Superintendent Update For May 14
'NUSD will return to a full pre-pandemic schedule in the 2021-2022 school year. Students will be on campus for full days five days a week.'
May 14, 2021
Find out what's happening in Novatofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Dear NUSD Family,
"The middle of May is upon us. I hope you are finding some opportunities to get out and enjoy these beautiful days!
Find out what's happening in Novatofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Topics included in today’s update are:
- Full Return for 2021-2022
- May 28 Minimum Day For All Students
- Changing CDC Guidance Around Masks
- Food and Nutritional Services Update
- Virtual Learning in 20212-2022 Survey Results
- VLA Newsletters
Full Return for 2021-2022
NUSD will return to a full pre-pandemic schedule in the 2021-2022 school year. Students will be on campus for full days five days a week.
Our confidence in this plan is buoyed by the recent release of the Beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy document by the California Department of Public Health. In the accompanying press release, California Governor Gavin Newsom stated, “Schools and institutions of higher education should conduct full-time, in person instruction, in compliance with Cal/OSHA emergency temporary standards and public health guidelines.”
NUSD will comply with CAL/OSHA standards and public health guidelines as we prepare for this full return to campus including making important decisions around masking and other mitigation measures. These decisions will evolve as we navigate the summer.
Additionally, NUSD continues to explore what virtual learning opportunities will be available to families who are not ready to participate in a full return to campus. You can get more information about this later in this newsletter and in updates to come.
May 28 Minimum Day
May 28 is a scheduled Minimum Day in the 2020-21 school calendar. For this minimum day, there will be no change to dismissal time and students will be released at the regular time. However, there will be no live instruction after lunch and students will be responsible for any assigned asynchronous work in the afternoon. This applies to both Flexible In-Person and Virtual Learning Academy students.
Changing CDC Guidance Around Masks
As many of you are aware, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has updated their guidance on mask wearing for vaccinated people. The impact of this decision on our schools is unclear at this time.
It continues to be expected that everyone on school or district property will continue to wear masks unless a person meets an exemption for mask wearing beyond being vaccinated. We anticipate that mask wearing will be required for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.
Food and Nutritional Services (FANS) Update
FANS has served 1 million meals since the onset of the remote learning and over 500,00 pounds of fresh produce! This week, FANS started serving peaches, nectarines, strawberries and apple wedges among others. In a traditional school year, participation in the program is around 2,000 lunches served per day. This year we are averaging 3,000 meals per day with Universal Feeding allowing us to provide free lunches to any child. The additional one time funding from Universal Feeding enables us to continue to reinvest back into our program and provide sustainability moving forward while continuing to increase the number of students eating our meals.
Some important data points:
- In the 2019-20 school year, FANS Fund 13 ran a surplus for the first time in over a decade. No additional general fund contributions were needed.
- In the 2020-21 school year, FANS had a one time increase in funding of about 25% due to increased participation through USDA funded Universal Free Meals.
- We saw decreased expenses through bid procurement with a Super Co-op with surrounding districts.
- We saw decreased expenses utilizing entitlement funds through the Super Co-op to continue purchases of fresh fruit and vegetables at no cost to the NUSD or FANS Fund 13.
In addition, Yakult has again donated to NUSD FANS a full supply of probiotic Yakult beverages. They generously have donated to show their support to work with school districts to assist with their health and wellness initiatives. FANS will make these available to be picked up with the grab and go meal kits and has received enough for staff to take home as well.
Virtual Learning in 2021-2022 Survey Results
NUSD continues to explore a virtual option for the 2021-2022 school year. Community interest will be a driver of where and how we will be able to deliver the program. The results of this survey will help us in our planning.
Below are the responses to the survey:
We also want to hear from families about their experience with this year’s Virtual Learning Academy and we will be asking for that feedback soon.
Virtual Learning Academy Newsletters
Here are links to this week’s VLA newsletters:
Take care and have a great weekend."
Sincerely,
Kris Cosca
This press release was produced by the Novato Unified School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.