BUHSD Update 1-15-21

BUHSD Update 1-15-21
Posted on 01/15/2021
BUHSD Update

 

 

 

BUHSD Families,

The Governing Board met earlier this week for their regular monthly meeting. At the meeting, after much discussion, the Governing Board voted to re-open schools for in-person instruction five days per week beginning Monday, February 8th

 

Choice to Make

With this decision, if your student is currently doing Option B classes through Edgenuity, nothing will change for your student. If your student is currently doing Option A classes where they follow a schedule with teachers from the school, you will need to make a choice whether to send your student for in-person classes five days per week beginning February 8th, or whether to have your student continue with Distance Learning through Teams. To provide consistency for teachers as they lesson plan and schools as they work through mitigation plans, the Governing Board stipulated that the choice you make will be in effect from February 8th through March 5th. You will be given the opportunity to change that choice for the final quarter of the school year. Next week, you will receive an email with instructions on how to communicate your choice for the period of February 8th through March 5th with your student's school. If you do not make the choice for your student, your student will continue in Distance Learning through March 5th.

 

As we bring students back to campus, students and staff will still be required to wear a cloth mask at all times when on campus or participating in activities, have their temperature checked as they enter the bus/campus, use hand sanitizer or wash hands as much as possible, continue increased cleaning and sanitation, discourage gathering in large groups, and other things that are in our mitigation plan during the hybrid phase fall semester. With the possible numbers coming back to campus, we will not be able to guarantee social distancing on the busses, in the classrooms, or in common spaces.

For those who do want to consider the health benchmarks on the county school dashboard in making the decision whether to send your student in person or keep them distance learning, here is the information from yesterday's posting. Our overall risk level remains at the "substantial" level with the recommended learning scenario being "Virtual with On-Site Support". Specifically:

-      Cases: we had an increase from 670.53 cases to 961.68 cases per 100,000 population;

-      Percent Positivity: this percentage increased from 21.9% to 24.06%;

-      Covid-like Illness: this benchmark increased from 12.9 to 14.5%.

 

Superintendent Survey

With this being an interim year, the Governing Board is in the process of recruiting for and selecting a new Superintendent to lead the district beginning July 1st. The Governing Board wants your feedback on what they should be looking for in hiring the next person to lead this district. On the district website at https://www.buhsd.org/news/what_s_new/superintendent_search_e-_survey there is a survey link being provided by the Arizona School Boards Association, who has been hired to assist the Governing Board in this process, to provide feedback. The Board appreciates any feedback you provide. 

 

Arizona Interscholastic Association

In addition, this week the Executive Board of the Arizona Interscholastic Association voted to allow winter sports to take place with limited crowd attendance and additional mitigation strategies in place. If your student is involved in winter athletics, specific information regarding your student's athletic program will be provided to them by their coach or school athletic department.

Please watch for an email next week that allows you to indicate your choice for your student between February 8th and spring break. In the meantime, schools will continue with Distance Learning for the next three weeks.

 

Sincerely,

Rob Roberson

Interim Superintendent