At last night’s school board meeting, the Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) announced that schools will reopen on April 1, 2021, for TK-6th graders as well as 9th graders, who wish to come back.
MUSD’s Educate Everywhere platform was launched almost a year ago, after Santa Clara County initiated shelter-in-place orders due to COVID.
Currently, the district has been allowing certain students, such as special education learners who need in-person support, to come onto certain school campuses. A total of 224 students are currently going to various campuses for in-person support, with 48 teachers instructing them. At the board meeting, Superintendent Cheryl Jordan announced that out of all the people who have come on-campus, 2 students and 22 staff members had gotten COVID-19. Those on-campus have asymptomatic testing done twice a month by the district.
So far, the district learned from a recent survey that 334 MUSD staff members have had their first vaccine, or are scheduled to have one.
All parents with children at MUSD will receive a survey over email by March 15. A plan and general school schedule will also be sent. At present, the district is planning to allow TK-6th and 9th graders to come back for 2 days a week, but that number could end up being more or less depending upon capacity.
For middle schoolers, and 10th – 12th graders, who have the greatest need, targeted in-person support will be offered.
“It’s very exciting, and thank you to all for the deep work you put into this,” said Superintendent Jordan, who spoke of all the planning that has been done by MUSD leadership, staff, and the district’s COVID-19 Task Force, which was composed of around 250 stakeholders.
It will be necessary for children who plan on coming back to be willing to get tested for COVID, and also complete a health screening each day.
Beginning next week, school sites will offer town halls to discuss what in-person learning will look like. The Superintendent, Board President, and Board Vice President will also provide general town halls, and there will also be language-focused group meetings for Chinese, Vietnamese, and Spanish speakers.
Superintendent Jordan emphasized the importance of maintaining safety protocols. Though there is a sense of relief among many, Jordan said that we still must be vigilant and be sure to consistently wash our hands, practice social distancing, wear masks, get asymptomatic testing, and quarantine whenever symptomatic.
“Those are essential to our success as we expand our in-person learning,” Jordan said.
