In this Message
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Plan
Mask Guidance Update
Measure S Update
EDGE Employee of the Month: Michelle Schmidt
Verizon Innovative Learning Schools
Preschool Students Learn About Environments
STEM Expands at Crescent Elementary
Red Ribbon Week
Upcoming Events
- November 2: Non-Student Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
- November 12: End of Trimester - Minimum Day, Elementary & Middle Schools
- November 18: Board of Education Meeting
- November 22 – November 26: Thanksgiving Break
Dear OUSD Community:
At their last meeting, our Board of Education meeting voted to approve the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Plan, which includes educational support programs and facilities improvements districtwide, such as multi-tiered systems of support, extended instruction time, classroom technology, and facilities updates such as gym renovations, restroom and technology upgrades, shade structures, water bottle filling stations and more. These will be funded by leveraging COVID and internal funds, with no impact on taxpayers. Additional information will be shared with our community and posted on the OUSD website as it becomes available.
We continue to prioritize the health and safety of our students, staff, and community by following the latest public health guidance. Most recently, California health officials announced that the indoor mask mandate for students and staff will remain in place as the state monitors conditions through the winter. Previously, the California Department of Public Health released updated guidance for K-12 schools that required students and staff to wear face coverings while they’re indoors on school campuses and said these requirements would be revised or eliminated by November 1. However, Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) has deemed wearing masks while playing basketball, volleyball, water sports, wrestling, competitive cheerleading, and gymnastics has the potential to pose a choking hazard. As such, these activities are waived from the CDPH requirement for indoor mask use for students during play. Students who fall under this exemption will undergo weekly COVID-19 surveillance testing using an FDA authorized PCR or antigen test. Students with documentation of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are waived from the requirement for weekly surveillance testing.
In the same guidance provided by CDPH on July 12, schools were to limit nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations with people who are not fully vaccinated, particularly in areas where there is moderate-to-high COVID-19 community transmission. Approved essential volunteers are limited to five per site per day and must verify their vaccine status as part of the approval process. In addition, all essential volunteers will be required to comply with the District established symptom screening methods, complete required Cal/OSHA and District trainings, and follow previous guidance with regard to Megan’s law, fingerprinting, and a tuberculosis (TB) risk assessment/examination as minimal requirements. At this time, visitors not tending to official business or authorized as a volunteer will not be permitted on a school campus.
