In preparation for the new school year, San Diego Unified is committed to implementing the following safety procedures:
Masking
As our county moved into the medium CDC COVID-19 community level on Thursday, August 11, we are moving forward with the following masking guidelines.
Effective Monday, August 15, masks are strongly recommended but no longer required for district employees, students, and visitors.
As we start the 2022-23 school year, indoor masking will not be required but rather will be strongly recommended at all schools and workplaces, regardless of CDC COVID-19 community level. Masks will be available for those who desire to use them at every district site. It is highly recommended that staff and students wear surgical masks or higher-level respirators (e.g., N95s, KN95s, KF94s).
During the school year, the district will follow a focused approach and decisions to require indoor masking at individual school sites will be based on the following:
Within the past 14 days, at least three outbreaks have occurred in the school, AND more than 5% of the school population (students and staff) is infected. Individual schools will resume required masking indoors for a minimum of a 14-day period when this metric is reached.
Utilizing the individual school focused approach, the district will not make district-wide masking decisions.
As a school community, it is important to keep in mind the unique feelings and circumstances of each individual in their choice to continue wearing a mask or not. We fully support the decision of all students, families, and staff. Harassment or bullying of anyone based on this personal choice will not be tolerated.
San Diego Unified encourages each of our families to have a conversation with their student about respecting differences in others, including the difference of opinion, and our ability as humans to be kind and respect each other in spite of those differences.
Below are some great resources for staff and families to help students understand and ease fears and anxiety they may be experiencing:
Testing
The California Department of Public Health recommends that “antigen tests be considered the primary option for detecting COVID-19 in schools, compared to PCR tests.” The antigen test provides rapid results for individuals who have virus levels that are high enough to transmit the virus. The PCR tests have a high level of sensitivity and can pick up low levels of the virus both before and after infection. This may cause students to unnecessarily miss school with low levels of the virus despite being asymptomatic and not being a risk to transmit to others. Therefore, the antigen tests will help to ensure that every child has access to in-person learning while maintaining a safe school environment.
Weekly asymptomatic COVID-19 testing will continue to be provided on a voluntary basis for students and staff at each school site. Student testing requires parental consent. Unvaccinated staff and volunteers will require weekly asymptomatic testing.
To sign up for weekly testing, please click here.
Under current Cal OSHA regulations, district staff who have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive or who have experienced COVID-19 symptoms must test to return to work.
Students who become symptomatic or ill while at school are required to wear a mask while being treated at the health office and waiting to be picked up by a parent/guardian. Students will have the opportunity to either get tested at school or can be provided with a rapid antigen test kit to take home. Students with symptoms must test to return to school.
To sign up for weekly testing, please click here.
For more COVID-19 testing locations, please check the district’s COVID-19 testing website.
Back to School Testing
Pershing Middle will be distributing the at-home rapid tests to students during the first week of school.
If an individual tests positive on a rapid antigen test, please notify your school and do not come to school.
If your child has symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough, congestion, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhea, please keep your child at home. Your child must take an at-home rapid test or test at our central sites at the Ed Center and Balboa and can return to school if two tests taken at least 12 hours apart are both negative, when symptoms have improved and your child is fever-free without fever-reducing medication for 24 hours.
There will be plenty of at home tests available the first week of school should your student need an at home test.
Vaccination
Our employees are already vaccinated. We encourage all eligible students to be vaccinated as well, and all members of the school community to receive any boosters for which they are eligible.
Vaccine access: The district will continue to offer COVID-19 vaccines at various sites. Please see our COVID-19 vaccine page for more information.
