ALVORD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

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Dear Members of the AUSD Community,

On Thursday, March 11, 2021, the Riverside County Department of Public Health announced that Riverside County has qualified to advance to the Red Tier in the state’s reopening framework for the first time since late September, 2020. The accelerated progression is due to the low rate of positive tests in the county’s most disadvantaged communities. On Friday, March 12, another milestone was met when California reached the 2 million mark for administering vaccinations.

Riverside now joins thirteen other counties throughout California that are poised to transition to the Red Tier this coming week, provided our metrics remain at or below our current levels. The state requires meeting specified metrics for two weeks before transitioning to a less restrictive tier. Middle schools and high schools are not eligible to open until the county the schools reside in are officially in the Red Tier. Given our expected Red Tier designation this week, we are moving forward with our plans to reopen our TK-5, 6-8, and 9-12 schools the following week, on Monday, March 22, 2021, as planned, for students and staff in the hybrid program.

In the event Riverside County is not advanced to the Red Tier as expected, families of middle school and high school students will be notified by Wednesday, March 17, that in-person instruction for middle and school students and staff in the hybrid program will be delayed until at least after Spring Break (March 29 - April 2), depending on the County's tier status at that time. Elementary schools will still open on March 22.

In preparation for the March 22 reopening, schools will provide asynchronous instruction only on March 17, 18, and 19. Students will be expected to work on assignments independently. The three days will be used by schools to "reopen" and prepare campuses, set up classrooms, test our systems, and make sure all of the pieces are in place to safely welcome our hybrid students back on March 22.

While start times and dismissal times may vary slightly, the elementary school day is as follows (see below). The middle school and high school schedules are the same at all middle schools and at all high schools (see below).

Look for reopening information specific to your school this coming week from your principals using the usual communication platforms they utilize to keep their students and families informed. Information includes instructional program details, start times and dismissal times and drop-off and pick-up procedures, entering campus procedures, attendance procedures, safety and social-distancing procedures, breakfast and lunch procedures, campus movement and general safety procedures inside and outside of the classroom, and other important notifications.

Appointments must be made in advance to meet with teachers or staff. Volunteers and other guests will not be permitted on campus.

Hybrid student cohort assignments are available on the Aeries parent portal.

1. Log onto the Aeries Parent Portal here.
2. Choose Demographics tab.
3. See Cohort assignment in demographics section.

Students have been divided into Cohort A or Cohort B. Hybrid students who are not returning to campus have been assigned to Cohort D.

In order to provide equitable access and opportunities for daily, live instruction with their teachers, hybrid students are assigned the following instructional schedule:

Cohort A:

• Monday and Wednesday: In-person learning at school.
• Tuesday and Thursday: Distance learning at home through Google Meet/Zoom while Cohort B students are physically present in the classroom.

Cohort B:

• Tuesday and Thursday: In-person learning at school
• Monday and Wednesday: Distance learning at home through Google Meet/Zoom while Cohort A students are physically present in the classroom.

Cohort D:

• Monday through Thursday: 100% Distance learning at home through Google Meet/Zoom

All Cohorts on Friday:

• Asynchronous assignments and intervention and support during office hours (in the same format we have had all year).

The passage of AB 86 on March 5 eliminated the COVID-19 testing requirements for students without symptoms. But we will still offer a voluntary COVID-19 testing program at no cost to families using a take-home rapid diagnostic antigen test. The test is administered in the home. Results take about 10 minutes. We use the same test to meet the competition requirements for student-athletes. Principals will provide details on how to sign up for the free voluntary program.

Students that exhibit symptoms associated with Covid-19 while on campus will be sent home and encouraged to COVID-19 test and inform the school as soon as they confirm, positive or negative, so the school can follow through with the contact-tracing process and notify anyone potentially at risk.

We are also working with the City of Riverside and our Curative Care Network partners to provide free COVID-19 testing at the following local sites below or from a mobile testing van on our campuses at scheduled times during the week. See the Curative flyers below in the News section or on Peachjar.

Drive-Thru Locations

Mission Grove Drive-Thru Location
Appointments ONLY
Appointment Info

355 E. Alessandro Blvd

Open daily (except holidays)
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (closed noon – 1 p.m.)

La Sierra Park Drive-Thru Location
Appointment Info

5215 La Sierra Avenue

7 days a week (except holidays)

Open daily (except holidays)
11 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (closed 3 – 4 p.m.)

UCR Lot 26 Drive-Thru
Appointment Info

3443 Canyon Crest Dr.
Riverside, CA 92507

Open daily (except holidays)
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (closed noon – 1 p.m.)

Riverside Sears Building
Appointment Info

6852 Streeter Avenue, Riverside, CA 92504

Open daily (except holidays)
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (closed noon – 1 p.m.)

Kiosk Location
Appointment Info

3900 Main Street

Open daily (except holidays)
8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (closed 12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.)

As of today, the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) remains a mandate, including testing in English Language Arts and Math for grades' 3 through 8 and grade 11, as well as the English Language Proficiency Assessments (ELPAC) for TK-12 for current English Language Learners only. That may change on March 16, when the California State Board of Education (SBE) discusses a waiver proposal for increased flexibility in this year's test administration. State tests are a federal requirement imposed by the United States Department of Education. Last year federal testing was waived when schools closed in March 2020. We use a highly developed local assessment system comprised of a set of diagnostic tools, including iReady, to measure and communicate student progress and plan instruction and interventions.

Alvord has joined the Riverside County Office of Education and many Riverside County school districts and other districts, organizations, and prominent leaders around the state, including United States Congressman and La Sierra High School graduate Mark Takano, representing the 41st Congressional District of California, in formally opposing the federal testing requirement. The primary reasons we oppose this form of testing are the lack of validity of the test data, the difficulties of testing students learning from home, the harmful effects of high-stakes testing on students' well being, and the significant amount of time testing would take away from in-person instruction once we reopen on March 22. We have also prepared a resolution opposing federal testing to memorialize our position. I will present the resolution and the Board will discuss it during our Regular Meeting of the Board of Education this coming Thursday, March 18. Direct your questions about the CAASPP and ELPAC to our Assessment Coordinator, Erin Askier here via email.

We still have not been provided guidance by the California Department of Education and Department of Public Health on graduation ceremonies. We intend to plan both a drive-through ceremony as we did last year, as well as a traditional graduation ceremony, in the event we are in a less restrictive tier. Gathering of large groups are limited by the tier assignment. I will provide regular updates on our plans. It is our intention to provide a formal graduation ceremony if we are able to safely do so. It would have to be approved by local public health officials.

CIF has updated its guidance on March 11. See it here. Our high schools and Athletic Directors are working closely with our league officials and member schools to agree on a common set of rules for the many elements of interscholastic sports, including competitive equity, and spectator and visiting school protocols. Member schools must also follow the California Department of Public Health guidelines as well as CIF (see above) and Riverside County guidelines. Last week, County Public Health Office Dr. Cameron Kaiser announced, “As our numbers improve and kids are getting back in school, we can now start expanding their athletic opportunities as well. We know our coaches are just as committed to safety as we are, and we can make this work.”

Among the guidelines high schools must follow:

• Athletic programs must obtain informed consent by the parents or caregivers on the risks of transmission by participating in the sport.
• Weekly COVID-19 testing for all players and coaches is required for specific groups.
• Tests and results must be available within 24 hours of competitions.
• Competitions between different teams will be allowed if both teams are within Riverside County, or a neighboring county that also has an adjusted case rate of 14 or less where that sport is also permitted.
• Teams are only allowed to play one game per day.
• Youth sports may include observers who are immediate household members during practice and competition.
• Physical distancing and face coverings must be maintained.

A Thought Exchange on reopening was launched on March 4. Please participate and have your voice heard. The exchange is anonymous. No log-in is necessary. Your thoughts will help us plan for a smooth and safe reopening. Take the parent survey here. Student take the student survey here. Below is the Student Word Cloud followed by the Parent Word Cloud. Both student and parent results suggest a mixture of excitement and anxiousness with safety being a priority.

Please join us for our latest Family Engagement Office Virtual Workshop: The Benefits of School-Family Partnerships, on Wednesday, the 17th, at 4pm. Find details and the link below in the News section under Parent Engagement.

Watch a music video of our music staff celebrating Music in Our School Month.

See our Red Ribbon contest winners and their award-winning art work.

See our 2021-22 School Year Calendar.

Find the Thought Exchange LCAP link.

Find Summer School 2021 information.

Watch the latest video from Public Health's on vaccinations.

And much more....

On behalf of the Board of Education, we are excited to bring our students and staff in the hybrid program safely back onto our campuses on March 22.

Visit the Frequently Asked Questions about reopening on our website here for additional information or to submit a question.

Stay positive. Stay healthy. Be well.

Sincerely,

Allan Mucerino

The Riverside County Department of Education (RCOE) also provides many services for school-age children and their families. Click on the image below or here to visit the RCOE Parent Portal. To browse by topic, click on the links below for detailed information.

Child Care for Essential Workers

Child Care Assistance and Resources

Child Care Finder

Head Start

Migrant Head Start

State Preschool

Teen Parent Program

Infant/Toddler Special Education Programs

Email: 2Superintendent@alvordschools.org
Website: https://www.alvordschools.org
Location: 9 Kpc Parkway, Corona, CA 92879, USA
Phone: 951) 509-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/alvordunified
Twitter: @AlvordUnified