August 27, 2021

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE

Dr. Eric Prater, Superintendent

 

San Luis Coastal students are playing, laughing, and learning together again. The first two weeks of school have been exciting as we recondition ourselves to the full day and full week of instruction. We are rediscovering our learning agency and working hard to find that muscle memory again. I am thrilled to see the safety and reopening expectations followed so our schools can remain open and safe for all. Thank you for your support as we implement these protocols across the district campuses. 

I want to thank the Parent Leaders across San Luis Coastal for stepping up and supporting the PTAs and Booster organizations. As you know, these are vital to our success and I very much appreciate your support. For those of you who are not familiar, please consider getting involved with these organizations. They would appreciate your time and/or financial support.

One of the more challenging aspects of the school day is drop off and pick up. As many of you know, these are tricky times that require patience and cooperation from everyone involved. The administrators, teachers, classified staff, and parent volunteers appreciate a friendly wave, smile, or much-needed attentive driver to move along during the morning or afternoon time frame. Please watch your speed, rules of the road, and pay attention to where you stop to drop off your child. Our schools are located within communities where people live so any effort to be respectful to them is appreciated. Thank you in advance.

While our schools are open, COVID is spreading quickly throughout our county. We are actively quarantining students and employees who have been identified as close-contacts with those who have tested positive for COVID. The majority of our “close contacts” and resulting quarantines are the result of community, not school spread. We are trying our best to keep our schools open and students in their seats every day. I want to remind parents to be extra-vigilant when it comes to being out in the community. Thank you for your continued support.

As this week comes to an end, I wanted to share a bit of little-known history with you. On Wednesday, President Biden signed into law H.R. 3642, the “Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act,” giving the Congressional Gold Medal to the 369th Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the “Harlem Hellfighters,” in recognition of their bravery and outstanding service during World War I. 

In that war, the 369th Infantry was made up of 2,000 Black men, 70% of whom were from Harlem. Since many white men in Jim Crow America refused to serve with their Black comrades, Army leaders assigned the unit to the French Army, where, although they still wore the U.S. uniform, they were outfitted with French weapons. 

Sent into the field, they stayed out for 191 days, the longest combat deployment of any unit in the war. At the Second Battle of the Marne and Meuse-Argonne, the unit had some of the worst casualties of that mangling war, suffering 144 dead and about 1,000 wounded. “My men never retire, they go forward or they die,” said their commander, Colonel William Hayward. Germans called them the “Bloodthirsty Black Men.” The French called them “hell-fighters.” A month after the armistice, the French government awarded the entire 369th the Croix de Guerre. (Source: Heather Cox Richardson - Letters from An American 2021.) 

If you would like more information on this amazing group of Americans, check out this documentary on the topic.

Together, we can do great things.

 

Eric

 

 

BUSINESS SERVICES

Ryan Pinkerton, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services

 

Job Opportunities

The district has a variety of job opportunities available. In particular, we are in need of Food Services staff, paraeducators (Special Education instructional assistants), noon duty aides, custodians, crossing guards, and bus drivers. Several positions require no experience. We also need substitutes. You can try out a variety of positions and see what you want to apply for. We will train you! 

Positive things about working for the school district:

1. Many positions are the same work days and times as your student(s), possibly even at the same school.
2. Good salary, health, and retirement benefits. 
3. Making a difference for students!

We offer assistance completing the online application, if needed. Contact Human Resources if you need assistance at (805) 549-1233. 

The following are position highlights: 

Paraeducator

If you are an individual who enjoys children and truly making a difference, you are encouraged to apply to be a paraeducator in our district. These amazing people work with our students with special needs. We provide the training and support and are always looking for positive and caring individuals. If you are interested in learning more about this rewarding position, please apply on EdJoin.  

Playground Supervisor

Are you available mid-day or know someone who is? Many of our elementary schools are in need of playground supervisors. Being a playground supervisor is a great way to support children with the important work of playing and nourishing their bodies. For more information and to apply, click on this EdJoin link. 

Food Services 

Food Services has a variety of positions available, with no special experience or training required: 

1.     Food Service Workers - no experience necessary, just a friendly attitude and willingness to make awesome food for kids! 

2.     Cook - knife skills (be able to cut/prep/chop/etc.) and the ability to follow a recipe needed. You will receive direction from our Chef. 

3.     Warehouse Driver - no special license required. A clean driving record and the ability to lift/push/pull/carry heavy boxes frequently, organize stock items, operate pallet jack and liftgate. 

Check out all our job openings HERE.  

 

Food Services 

We are able to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students this school year. The good news is we have doubled the number of students who are taking advantage of this new benefit. The bad news is we need to hire more staff. Current Food Services staff are doing everything they can to keep up with demand. We will continue to hire staff and make needed adjustments. Please bear with us through the start of the school year. We love the fact that the kids are eating school meals and we will do everything we can to make sure it continues.

 

Transportation

The Transportation department is currently making necessary adjustments to routes based on ridership, traffic, and school bell times. Stops with no students will be deleted and adjustments are being made to ensure kids are getting to school on time.

 

If you have a question or concern, please call the transportation department at 805-549-1391 or email Debra at dwellshutcherson@slcusd.org.

 

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

Diane M. Frost, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services

 

Vaccination Helps!

SLO County remains in the CDC category of "High" community transmission according to the CDC Data Tracker. The percentage of the population who are fully vaccinated age 12 and older has increased by about 1% to 54.4%, but the percentage of those who have received one dose is 63.7%. We’re hopeful that this increase in those 12 and older, as well as the news that Pfizer has obtained full FDA approval, will show an increase in the fully vaccinated percentage soon. In Dr. Borenstein's press conference on August 18, she stated that 66% of SLO County received at least one dose. This graphic illustrates the power of vaccination to combat this aggressive virus.

Since the start of school, San Luis Coastal has encountered positive Covid infections among students. The primary source of infection is community, not school, spread. We implemented contact tracing immediately and were happy to see high vaccination rates at the secondary level along with adherence to wearing masks. Because of this, we were able to implement modified quarantine for many of those affected, allowing some of our students to return to school sooner than the ten day quarantine requirement. Key learning: Vaccination and masks work to keep students in school.

The Delta Variant is escalating. In an August 24, 2021 post, SLO Health officials noted fifty-five SLO County residents are currently hospitalized with severe COVID-19, including sixteen in the ICU. San Luis Coastal will be offering Vaccination Clinics for our community at all of our secondary schools again soon. Location, dates, and time will be published in secondary site newsletters.

 

Quarantine and Modified Quarantine

San Luis Coastal is working to prioritize student safety and maintain healthy operations to keep students in school in the wake of the pandemic. Since the beginning of our school year, we have worked with families whose students have been “Close Contacts” to an individual who is positive for COVID 19. District response is detailed in our COVID Safety Plan, but also summarized below for your ease. Please take special note of the “Quarantine Exemption and Exceptions” detailed below and feel free to reach out with any questions you may have.

Quarantine for Close Contacts

“Close contact” is defined as being within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Any unvaccinated students or staff who were in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 are to quarantine in accordance with CDPH guidance for 10 days from the date of exposure. Fully vaccinated, asymptomatic individuals do not have to do home quarantine. Close contacts should test for COVID-19 between the fourth and seventh day following exposure and self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days regardless of vaccination status.

Quarantine Exemptions and Exceptions

Individuals without symptoms who have had COVID in the last 90 days and those who are fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine. 

Public Health states that students may be eligible for modified quarantine at school, when both students and the COVID-19 positive person were wearing face coverings. The exposed students may still attend school for the 10-day quarantine period from the date of last exposure if:

• they are asymptomatic,
• continue to mask appropriately when required,
• test negative twice during the quarantine period (Initial test and three days later, ideally from on the fourth-seventh day and eighth-ninth day from last exposure.), AND
• do not participate in extracurricular activities at school, including sports and before/after school care, and other community activities.