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Video from Special Board Meeting, Hybrid Update

 

Huntington Beach, CA-Special Board Meeting/Update on the OVSD Hybrid Schedule

Governor’s Stay At Home Order

Yesterday, in response to an increase in coronavirus cases throughout the state, Governor Newsom announced a new stay at home order for regions of California where hospitals are in danger of exceeding capacity. Although this order imposes restrictions on businesses and various activities, it does not affect in-person instruction for school districts that have already opened. The Governor stated that schools should remain open with the necessary precautions in place. In alignment with the Governor’s order, OVSD schools will remain open for in-person hybrid instruction.

State and local health officials have cited a large body of evidence that schools’ health and safety measures, which include physical distancing, masks, smaller cohorts, timely contact tracing and notifications, and enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols, have been effective in combating COVID-19. Dr. Ghaly, secretary of California’s Health and Human Services Agency, has said schools are not the source of the recent COVID-19 surges and continue to have low case and transmission rates. OVSD’s COVID-19 Dashboarddata provides further evidence that schools are not creating or contributing to the recent increase in confirmed cases. Thus far, OVSD has not had any person-to-person transmission in schools or other facilities.  This is largely due to your diligent efforts in helping to keep our schools safe. Together, our staff and students continue to follow guidelines and protocols on our campuses and parents continue to support these important efforts, which is making a difference. 

Since discussions began on November 5 about enhancing and modifying the current hybrid schedule, the COVID-19 case rates in Orange County have nearly quadrupled. Adding more students to our classrooms at this time would prohibit OVSD from adhering to the California Department of Public Health’s guidelines for social distancing and small cohorting, which could lead to increased exposure to COVID-19 for students, staff, and families.  The District’s overarching goal is to keep students in school while balancing the wellness and safety of our entire community.

OVSD will maintain the current Hybrid schedule until further notice. However, when COVID-19 cases become more manageable, the District will augment the current split week schedule with more time in school and more direct instruction via Zoom when students are at home.  A longer school day will allow for more socialization and instruction.  The plan also allows children to keep attending school on the same days to minimize disruption to family schedules.

We will continue to monitor COVID-19 rates in our community, and any changes in the hybrid schedule are dependent upon a decrease in the current COVID-19 surge.  A tentative timeline for implementation of the enhanced Hybrid schedule is:

Elementary Schools - January 25th

Middle Schools - February 8 

We appreciate your continued partnership, flexibility, and patience as we navigate this challenging and unprecedented chapter in OVSD’s history together.

 

 


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