Parentsquare Logo

  • SLUSD Reopening Schools UPDATE

    Dear SLUSD Staff and Community: We are providing the current status of our planning to reopen school facilities for the 2020-21 school year, including: Current SLUSD Reopening Timeline New Health Guidance Key Considerations Community Engagement REOPENING SCHOOLS TIMELINE In early June, the Reopening Schools Task Force - composed of district/school staff, principals, teachers, and parents - reviewed thousands of staff and community surveys to synthesize and summarize key recommendations for planning. In mid-June, district leaders, principals, and bargaining members formed targeted work groups to create preliminary reopening proposals for elementary, middle, and high school. By the end of June, principals will share preliminary plans with SLUSD Cabinet Leadership. These site-based plans are grounded in local public health recommendations, state/county guidance, and community feedback. Using these plans, SLUSD Cabinet Leadership will finalize plans and work with our labor partners in early July. Most decisions will require bargaining group consensus. On July 14, 2020, SLUSD Cabinet Leadership will present to the board preliminary decisions and labor agreements. All decisions will represent the district’s current best planning, given the variability of public health response. On July 15, SLUSD will present School Reopening Plans to district families via ParentSquare and the district’s website at www.slusd.us . Plans are projected to include details on a blended model of in-person/distance learning and plans for a full distance learning model, as needed. NEW STATE AND COUNTY HEALTH GUIDANCE The state and county both recently issued updated guidance for school reopening. Face coverings and physical distancing are primary recommendations. SLUSD has also developed a draft COVID-19 safety plan with district-specific recommendations, which will be shared publicly upon completion. KEY CONSIDERATIONS Safety: We are currently procuring personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, face shields, disinfectants, sanitizers, and gloves in anticipation of needs. Technology Access:  We are obtaining new Chromebooks and hotspots to ensure full access for all students.  COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT We were fortunate to receive insightful feedback through 2000 family surveys and almost 600 staff surveys in late May. Our planning efforts are guided by the overwhelming concerns for safety, the need to strengthen distance learning, and the desire to more effectively meet the social and emotional needs of our students and staff. The data also indicates that our community is roughly divided on returning to some form of in-person instruction or remaining in a full-time distance learning model. District planning will include instructional models for both of these scenarios. Our Reopening Schools Task Force and work groups have also provided ongoing community feedback to assist the district in planning. In summary, we look forward to releasing our preliminary School Reopening Plans on July 15, 2020. These plans will remain fluid and subject to change with emerging public health guidance. Thank you for your patience and collaboration as we build clarity on the 2020-21 school year. Questions and feedback may be directed to communications@slusd.us .

    Monday, Jun 22 2020

  • A Statement from the San Leandro School Board of Edu...

    We have received thoughtful inquiries about School Resource Officer programs in our district schools. SLUSD has not had a School Resource Officer program since the 2016-17 school year. A separate elementary school program offered by the San Leandro Police Department, referred to as Gang Resistance Education And Training (GREAT), was discontinued in 2018. Moving forward, police officers will only be on any of our campuses in the event of an emergency or if taking a crime report. We thank you for always providing us with your valuable feedback. We look forward to further dialogue as we work to reopen our schools with safety and equity at the forefront of our planning. Sincerely, The San Leandro Unified School Board of Education Peter Oshinski, President Evelyn Gonzalez, Vice President Christian Rodriguez, Board Clerk James Aguilar, Trustee Diana Prola, Trustee Leo Sheridan, Trustee Monique Tate, Trustee

    Tuesday, Jun 16 2020

  • A Statement from the San Leandro Unified School Dist...

    June 10, 2020 As our country confronts our legacy of racial oppression, the national dialogue is fueling an undeniable call to action for activism and advocacy. This pivotal moment in history demands that all public institutions, including SLUSD, carefully examine every practice and policy that contributes to systemic racism. It is no longer enough to be aware of the critical weaknesses and biases that perpetuate these racialized inequities, whether intentional or unintentional. Every member of our society has an active, urgent role to play in remedying these historic wrongs. Knowing that despite our best intentions, we continue to contribute to the persistent problem, SLUSD must meet the moment with critical reflection. Fortunately, we have a thoughtful framework in place to analyze our efforts towards eradicating institutional bias. In October of 2018, the San Leandro Unified School Board passed   EQUITY BOARD POLICY 0415 , grounded in the core foundational belief that the diversity in our community is our greatest singular strength and integral to our success.  Through this policy, we proactively identify class and cultural biases as well as practices, policies, and institutional barriers that negatively influence student learning, perpetuate achievement gaps, and impede equal access. We strive to eliminate inequities by reversing the history of exclusion, discrimination, and segregation, which has been especially troubling in San Leandro. Specific requirements within our equity policy include the following: Routine assessment of student needs based on data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds to enable equity-focused policy, planning, and resource development decisions. Allocating financial and human resources to provide all students with equitable access to district programs and services. Enabling and encouraging all students to complete advanced college preparation programs. Building positive school climates that promote student engagement, safety, and support. Adopting curriculum that accurately reflects the diversity among student groups. Promoting the employment and retention of a diverse staff that reflects the student demographics of the community. Providing district staff with current, researched-based, professional learning, and development on culturally responsive instructional practices. Knowing that educational gaps persist for our students, this policy informs our current critical reflection. State and national awards for improving access and equity are potent indicators that this policy has moved the needle in the right direction. With that in mind, the San Leandro Unified School District will expand on our current equity-based practices with these next steps: Require cultural competency and racial bias training for every current SLUSD employee through both our mandated training process, and with embedded anti-bias professional development throughout the year. Collaborate with the San Leandro Police Department about the future of the School Resource Officer program on our campuses prior to the start of the school year. It is important to note that SLUSD stopped participating in the GREAT program for elementary students in 2018 and has never allocated any funding to support the School Resource Officer program. Increase funding for our Social Justice Academy (SJA) at San Leandro High School, while finding more opportunities to expand the academy’s programming to all classrooms in SLUSD. Increase enrollment in our Ethnic Studies course at San Leandro High School through strong, sustained recruitment. We will also look to expand ethnic studies curriculum to include every grade level, starting in kindergarten. Strengthen ongoing efforts to increase diversity in our teaching and administrative staff, through explicit employment postings and practices that recruit equity-focused applicants. Closely align and collaborate with the San Leandro Teachers Association’s Human Rights and Social Justice Committee to elevate the dialogue on inequity in our organization and our community. Analyze our ongoing cycles of student, staff, and community feedback to ensure our work is making the intended lasting impact. As we look deeply at ourselves, we advocate for the same critical reflection by all of our community partners. We echo the voices of our students, staff, and community members who are calling for justice locally on behalf of Steven Taylor, Emerald Black, and Anthony Gomez. We also believe that our civic leaders are ready to follow through on their commitment to our community. We will continue to say the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and all who have been tragically killed due to institutionalized racism. We unreservedly agree that Black Lives Matter while standing in solidarity with our communities of color in the pursuit of a future that will finally, truly reflect equal freedom and equitable justice.

    Wednesday, Jun 10 2020

  • Free Meals TODAY and ALL SUMMER!!

    Our meal service program continues uninterrupted throughout the summer! To-go boxed meals will continue to be free to all children 18 and under regardless of meal program eligibility. Meal service is on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11-12 pm at the following locations: San Leandro High School - 2200 Bancroft Avenue John Muir Middle School - 1444 Williams Street Monroe Elementary School - 3750 Monterey Boulevard Each service includes meals for multiple days. Pickup is available in the drop off areas each location by vehicle, bicycle, or on foot. There is no age or student status verification necessary. Children not residing in SLUSD are also eligible to receive meals.

    Wednesday, Jun 10 2020

  • Free Meals All Summer and Thank You From Your Superi...

    Dr. McLaughlin thanks you for all your support this school year! We are also pleased to announce that our meal service program will continue uninterrupted throughout the summer! To-go boxed meals will continue to be free to all children 18 and under regardless of meal program eligibility. Meal service is on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11-12 pm at the following locations: San Leandro High School - 2200 Bancroft Avenue John Muir Middle School - 1444 Williams Street Monroe Elementary School - 3750 Monterey Boulevard Each service includes meals for multiple days. Pickup is available in the drop off areas each location by vehicle, bicycle, or on foot. There is no age or student status verification necessary. Children not residing in SLUSD are also eligible to receive meals.

    Friday, Jun 05 2020

  • Happy Last Day of School and Congratulations to the ...

    Dear SLUSD, With today as the last day of school for San Leandro Unified, our 5th-grade promotions are complete, our 8th graders are on their way to San Leandro High School, and now we are getting ready to bid loving farewells to our Pirate Seniors! Your SLUSD School Board of Education is sending their congratulations to all of our students in the historic Class of 2020 along with a tribute to one of our favorite traditions in SLUSD, the dazzling decorated graduation caps that sadly, we won’t get to admire in person this year. But, you can tune in tonight at 5:30 to see the SLHS virtual promotion at www.slhs.net and see for yourself why we are so proud of our Pirates. After all of our years together, we know beyond a doubt that these beautiful, brilliant souls graduating tonight will be the keys to uplifting our society and completely transforming our world. Congratulations Class of 2020!

    Thursday, Jun 04 2020

  • A Statement from Dr. McLaughlin 6.1.20

    Dear SLUSD Community, As we embark on what is traditionally a celebratory week in San Leandro Unified, I know that our collective hearts are unimaginably heavy right now. I have to ask myself, how do we celebrate the close of this already difficult school year, when we are outraged at yet another tragically senseless killing of a black man at the hands of a white police officer? The horrific killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, along with countless others before them, bring the stark inequities embedded in our society into our hearts and minds, at the exact time when we cannot be together to process our anger and frustration. Even more troubling is the knowledge that our children lack the benefit of support from their teachers and administrators to navigate their feelings and to understand more deeply the historical context that puts us in this definitive moment in history.  I join with the voices who call for immediate justice as the way to begin the healing process. In San Leandro Unified, our work to deconstruct the systemic barriers which prevent true access and equity for all of our students has been nationally recognized because we have put forth sustained energy and focus on the insidious problem. With that said, we know that our work is far from done and becomes even more urgent.  As we see at this moment, the same is true for our society. Extreme injustices can no longer be placed on the shoulders of our historically marginalized communities. Our path forward must be a shared one. These words from Dr. Martin Luther King have been shared many, many times in the past, and have been brought to the forefront recently, but I stand with those who see the relevance at this moment: “True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice.” We are here to support our community in every way we can. I will share more about this last week of school and what the start of school will look like for next year in more messages this week. Until then, be safe, be resilient, and be aligned in our goal for true peace. Sincerely, Dr. Mike McLaughlin SLUSD Superintendent

    Monday, Jun 01 2020

  • A Message from Dr. McLaughlin, SLUSD Superintendent

    Good Morning SLUSD Community, As we close out another week of emergency distance learning, Dr. McLaughlin would like to share some words of encouragement and support to every member of our San Leandro Unified family. Please remember to reach out to our district and school site staff with any needs you may have. We sincerely hope you are well and please stay safe.

    Friday, Apr 24 2020

  • SLUSD Closure Update - School Facilities Closed For ...

    Dear SLUSD Community, From the onset of this public health crisis, we have pledged not to reopen our school buildings until it is safe to do so. With that important reality in mind, Alameda County Superintendent of Schools, L. Karen Monroe has  stated that all K-12 schools in Alameda County will remain closed for in-person instruction for the rest of the 2019-20 school year to protect the health of our students, staff, and our entire community. Although many important questions remain about what this means for our students and families, SLUSD has been preparing for this eventuality since we initially closed our doors. While we await guidance from state officials on grading and graduation requirements, we have been providing answers to many questions, with the goal of providing as much continuity of service as safely possible. Here is a summary of some of the most important services available to you. Meal Services Our free meal service for all children 18 and under will continue without interruption throughout this entire closure period. Service days are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11 am -12 pm at the following locations: San Leandro High School - 2200 Bancroft Avenue John Muir Middle School - 1444 Williams Street Monroe Elementary School - 3750 Monterey Boulevard Multiple days worth of meals will be available on each of these days. We are able to provide meals for up to three students without them having to be present. Chromebook Checkout We have been actively providing Chromebooks to every student who needs one. To date, we have checked out almost 3000 devices. If you were not able to make it to one of our checkout days, reach out to your school’s principal to pick up a Chromebook if needed. Free WiFi is available through Comcast or Common Networks . Remember, as your student uses technology at home (on a district device or your own device) and participates in online learning, that the Student Use of Technology Agreement your child has been trained on this school year and family have agreed to is in effect. Home Learning Resources and Distance (Online) Learning Our home learning resources , which include suggested daily schedules and home learning plans, have been updated for you to access immediately after Spring Break. Home learning with online (or distance learning) components will be available starting the week of April 13th. It is essential for all students to stay on track during the closure as best as possible, so be sure to go weekly to the teacher created home learning resources folder your student’s teacher has created and see what school work your student has been assigned. Students with IEPs will find their resource teacher or special education teacher folder there as well. Our special education team will reach out to communicate how to access other related services. As always, translation support is available for Spanish at (510) 936-1710 and for Chinese at (510) 679-7585. School Facilities and Public Spaces As you are likely aware, the shelter-in-place order for Alameda County has been extended through May 3 and now includes more stringent restrictions and mandatory closures of public spaces. In accordance, all SLUSD playgrounds and fields are closed to the public under this order. Please continue to do your part to protect the health of our community by remaining at home as much as possible, and follow critically important public health guidelines. Communications My staff and I will continue to be in close contact with you during this time. We are so fortunate to have adopted ParentSquare this year, as strengthening communication channels is a SLUSD strategic goal. Little did we know that this online platform would become a lifeline for us all. Know that we are in these uncharted waters together. Clear, timely communication will keep us connected. Reach out to your principals, connect with your teachers, and contact any of our staff with questions or concerns as we strive to find answers together for the future. Your continued strength, resiliency, and support are profoundly appreciated. Michael McLaughlin, Ed.D Superintendent

    Thursday, Apr 02 2020

  • SLUSD Closure Update 3.25.20 - School Facilities Clo...

    SLUSD Closure Update 3.25.20 - School Facilities Closed Through May 1 Dear SLUSD Community, As we have anticipated, the closure period for SLUSD schools has been extended through May 1 to continue critical steps necessary to protect our students and staff from the rapidly developing public health crisis confronting our community. This was a unified, regional decision by local public health agencies and county superintendents to extend school closures to slow the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to the maximum extent. Under this current order, SLUSD schools are projected to reopen on Monday, May 4. With this extension, we have important updates for you: Update #1:      Meal Services Our free meal service for all children 18 and under will continue throughout this closure, including next week during Spring Break . Service days are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11 am -12 pm at the following locations: San Leandro High School - 2200 Bancroft Avenue John Muir Middle School - 1444 Williams Street Monroe Elementary School - 3750 Monterey Boulevard Multiple days worth of meals will be available on each of these days. I want to thank and acknowledge our Food Services team for their hard work and dedication in providing this essential support for our families.  Update #2:      Technology Distribution: Having a laptop or device with a keyboard can increase access to quality home learning. Knowing that, we want to begin Chromebook distribution as soon as possible. If you have not yet filled out the SLUSD Technology Needs Assessment, please complete this form: https://survey.slusd.us/ today. We will update families with distribution plans directly. Update #3:      Home Learning After Spring Break Our staff has been working to provide meaningful learning experiences for our students in this time of uncertainty. We have shared  home learning resources for families to use, which include daily schedules and home learning plans, created by SLUSD teachers, designed to help maintain coursework as best as possible during the closure. These folders will be updated weekly, so after Spring Break, please come back at the start of each new week. Please remember that translation support is available for Spanish at (510) 936-1710 and for Chinese at (510) 679-7585.    Teachers and administrators are working diligently and creatively to connect with their students in this completely new environment, and I’m certain they appreciate your understanding and staying connected while they adapt. Please reach out directly for support using email or ParentSquare.  We know you likely have many questions about how school closures will affect your student. This is true for families up and down the state and across the country. Know that we are working with our local and state educational leaders and will provide more details and answers to the many important questions we all have. What we do know is that we all play an essential role in preventing the further spread of COVID-19 in our community. This includes continuing to adhere to the “Shelter in Place” orders and staying home except for essential activities until further notification from our local health department. I will continue to update you as frequently as necessary and truly appreciate your support. Please take care of yourselves. Michael McLaughlin, Ed.D Superintendent

    Wednesday, Mar 25 2020