New Communication to Families for September 25, 2020...

September 25, 2020 Dear Solana Beach School District families and employees, This week will be remembered in the history books as the week the Solana Beach School District reopened its physical campuses to students and staff, following several months of uncertainty, sadness and, in many cases, frustration. This past week, however, hundreds of administrators, teachers, and support staff welcomed back our Onsite Scholars cohorts with bright, shiny eyes and big smiles under their masks. I feel fortunate to have visited each of our six open campuses on both September 21 and 24 to greet our Onsite Scholars and many family members. Your children’s physical presence and their enthusiasm, curiosity, and courage have made this one of the most unforgettable weeks of my life. These exciting times and our Onsite Scholars program are only able to continue with your support and active participation in healthy practices at home. Our ability to keep our schools open hinges on two factors: 1) that San Diego County continues to see fewer positive COVID-19 cases and (2) most importantly, that we in SBSD do everything we can possibly do to keep our students and staff safe and healthy by preventing the spread of the virus in our schools and offices. As you know, the SBSD Board has approved and our employees have been implementing additional health and safety measures, including a proactive, asymptomatic COVID-19 testing program in conjunction with UC San Diego Health. These measures are designed not only to maximize the protection of students and staff from the spread of COVID-19, but also to keep our schools and classrooms open throughout the school year. For a comprehensive overview of our reopening plan and how we are working to keep our schools open and safe, please read our Guide to Reopening Schools 2020-21, which is posted on your school’s website and the District’s website, www.sbsd.net .   Here are some critically important things we are asking of all families and staff to keep our schools open: Face coverings at school: Make sure your child wears a face mask that is clean and appropriate (see illustration above). For health reasons, we cannot accept bandanas, masks with vents, or face gaiters. Read Centers for Disease Control face covering guidelines here . Students and staff who need an approved face covering may request one at their school.  Face coverings in the community: Wear a face covering when outside of your home, such as when you run errands. Reducing transmission outside of our schools will help us keep our classrooms open.  Physical distancing at school of at least 6’:  Students are learning and practicing physical distancing in their classrooms, at snack/lunch, and during recesses. This is a new routine and procedure required for students and staff. Physical distancing in the community of at least 6’: Practice safe physical distancing when outside of your home.This not only helps reduce transmission, it also helps reinforce this requirement at school. Handwashing:  Use recommended hand-washing techniques from the CDC . Illness: Keep your child home when they display symptoms associated with COVID-19. See pages 10 and 12 of SBSD’s Guide to Reopening Schools 2020-21 for details . Close contact:  If someone in your home has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, isolate/quarantine in your home to prevent spread. Keep your school informed immediately: Notify school officials if your child, or someone with whom they have had close direct contact, is diagnosed with COVID-19. Whether you are an Onsite Scholar or Online Scholar family, you can access a wealth of information on preventing infection on the CDC website . Truthfully and wholeheartedly, as the Superintendent of Solana Beach School District, I desperately want two things: 1) healthy students and staff and 2) open schools. This is what we love to do! So with that said, I  cannot overemphasize how important it is for everyone to stay vigilant, wear a face covering, and do your part in school, at home, and when you are out in the community. Here’s to a fantastic second week, everyone! Sincerely, Jodee Brentlinger, Superintendent

Saturday, Sep 26 2020

New! SBSD Communication to Families as We Continue t...

September 18, 2020 Dear Solana Beach School District families and employees, With information circulating around San Diego County’s current status as Tier 2 (red category) and possible move to Tier 1 (purple category) next week, I wanted to provide you with a quick update regarding the reopening of our physical campuses to Onsite Scholars and staff in the Solana Beach School District. Since September 1, 2020, schools across the county have been delivering in-person instruction and, in our district, we began our first phase of in-person instruction this past Monday, September 14. As of this writing, San Diego County is in Tier 2 (red); therefore, Solana Beach School District and other San Diego schools are continuing to phase in physically reopening on Monday, September 21. We look forward to welcoming Onsite Scholars Cohort A students on Monday and Cohort B students on Thursday. With the above and beyond health and safety measures we are implementing, SBSD leadership is confident in moving forward with reopening next week. These measures are designed not only to maximize the protection of students and staff from COVID-19, but also to keep our schools and classrooms open throughout the school year. For Onsite Scholars (students) and all employees, our Board of Education recently approved a proactive, asymptomatic COVID-19 testing program. In partnership with UC San Diego Health, SBSD implemented and conducted testing this week. Nearly 2,000 students and staff have been tested at our school-based testing centers. We are grateful for our partnership with UC San Diego Health, which enabled us to administer professional, cost-efficient testing, and provide quick results to those tested. In addition to our proactive testing program, the following above and beyond health and safety precautions are integral  to the Solana Beach School District reopening plan: Students and staff are required to wear facial coverings. Students and staff are required to maintain 6' physical distancing. Small groups of students (cohorts) have been created to maintain stability and limit student and staff interactions through staggered schedules throughout the day (e.g. arrival, dismissal, recess, and lunch). Active symptom and temperature checks will be conducted daily for students and staff. An increased cleaning and disinfecting schedule for all of our facilities will be implemented. All families and staff now have access to SBSD’s new Guide to Reopening Schools 2020-21, which is posted on our website ( www.sbsd.net ). In addition, on each school website there is a special addendum specific to that school. Please review this information, if you have not already done so, because it provides you with a detailed overview of our reopening guidelines, health and safety protocols, instructional program details (Onsite and Online Scholars), as well as social-emotional and other resources and links to support our families. We could not have arrived at this moment without the incredible teamwork, energy, and flexibility of our employees, parents/guardians, community members, and our bright, resilient students. I am so proud of the work completed and work continuing to be done to engage students and support learning. We are all doing things that we never imagined, but we are in this together as we embark upon the next stage—reopening our physical campuses next Monday. I remain determined and positive about our efforts to safely bring students and staff back to our schools! I also look forward to personally greeting each and every student and staff member returning to our campuses next week.  As superintendent of this wonderful school district, I cannot overemphasize how important it is for everyone to stay vigilant in protecting each other’s health by following state and county guidelines and doing your part at home, in school, and when you are out in the community. Sincerely, Jodee Brentlinger, Superintendent

Friday, Sep 18 2020

Onsite Scholars and Employees! Additional COVID-19 T...

September 17, 2020 Good morning Solana Beach Onsite Scholars families and all SBSD employees, I am pleased to announce that, in partnership with UC San Diego Health, we are offering Onsite Scholars (students) and staff an  additional COVID-19 testing day on Friday, September 18, from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Solana Pacific School . The make-up day is for Onsite Scholars (students) and all SBSD employees who have been unable to participate in the proactive COVID-19 testing program this week, prior to our return to  physical campuses during the week of September 21. If you plan to visit the make-up testing site on September 18, please activate your MyChart account prior to your arrival. You should have received an email or text from UC San Diego Health with your MyChart activation information. If you did not, please reach out to the UC San Diego Health testing coordinators at SBSDCOVIDTesting@health.ucsd.edu and request a new activation code. It is important to do this within 24 hours of testing in order to receive your results. Please be sure to include the name of the individual(s) who will be tested in your email. We strongly recommend all Onsite Scholars (students) be tested prior to returning to our campuses next week to help keep our staff, students, and families healthy, as well as support us in our efforts to keep our schools open. More information can be found in our new Guide to Reopening Schools 2020-21 on your school’s website or at www.sbsd.net . Sincerely, Jodee Brentlinger, Superintendent

Thursday, Sep 17 2020

Important Update for Onsite Scholars/Staff Regarding...

September 15, 2020 Good morning Solana Beach Onsite Scholars Families and All Staff, For those of you who are registered and scheduled to participate in the District’s proactive COVID-19 testing program with UC San Diego Health this week, it is important that you activate your UCSD MyChart account. You should have received an email from UC San Diego Health with the activation information. If you cannot locate the email to activate MyChart, please check your spam folder. If the MyChart activation email is not in your regular email  inbox or spam folder, please reach out to the testing coordinators at this email address:  SBSDCOVIDTesting@health.ucsd.edu   to get a new activation code. It is important to do this within 24 hours of testing in order to receive your results. Please note the name of the person(s) taking the test in your email. Thank you for your attention to this important update as testing begins today and runs through September 17. Sincerely, Jodee Brentlinger, Superintendent

Tuesday, Sep 15 2020

SBSD Board Bulletin! News from the September 10, 202...

Board Meeting on September 10, 2020 In addition to the engaging online instruction being provided by our teachers and support staff since online learning began on August 25, 2020, Solana Beach School District Discovery Labs opened to all students this week. Labs, supported by funding from the Solana Beach Schools Foundation, include lessons in STREAM, art, technology, supplemental physical education, media, and music.  Highlights from the Meeting Teaching and Learning Instructional Services Assistant Superintendent Sabrina Lee presented a brief update on the initial online reopening of schools for the 2020-21 school year. Ms. Lee shared comments praising the flexibility and diligence of staff and teachers during the start of school. Student work, including “identity grids” and projects researching the meaning of student names, were featured in the presentation, as was an announcement that SBSD’s Discovery Labs, supported by the Solana Beach Schools Foundation, launched for online instruction this week. STREAM, art, technology, supplemental physical education, media, and music are all part of the Discovery Labs. It was reported that Onsite Scholars and staff will begin school during the week of September 21, 2020, using an A/B schedule - Cohort A Onsite Scholars on September 21, and Cohort B Onsite Scholars on September 24. Solana Beach Schools Foundation Donation The Board approved a generous donation from the Solana Beach Schools Foundation in the amount of $36,221.70 to the Solana Beach School District. The donation supports personnel, libraries, materials, and supplies. District’s Building Modification Project District buildings H and I, also known as the “Warehouse” and the “Barn,” will become home to the Child Nutrition Services and Maintenance and Operations Departments for operational efficiency. The Board approved the revised site layout, scope, timeline, and budget for the District Office building modification project, following a visual presentation by staff and HMC Architects. Solana Vista School Reconstruction Project Regarding its Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the cost of construction of Solana Vista School, District staff reported to the Board that following Division of State Architect approval and finalized bids received, the revised GMP is reduced by $767,901.00, and the new GMP is $32,975,936.00. The Board approved the Second Amendment for the Site Lease, Sublease Agreement, and Construction Services Agreement with Erickson-Hall Construction Co., for Lease Lease-back Project regarding the GMP for the school reconstruction project and authorization for expenditure of funds necessary to carry it out. Board Directions and Actions Reopening Schools Presentation Includes Proactive COVID-19 Testing for Staff and Onsite Scholars (Students) Superintendent Jodee Brentlinger provided a comprehensive presentation on the phased-in approach to reopening the Solana Beach School District’s physical campuses to Onsite Scholars (students) and staff during the week of September 21, 2020. Onsite Scholars in Cohort A will return on September 21 and Onsite Scholars in Cohort B will return on September 24. The District’s reopening plans require face coverings, six feet of physical distancing, and active temperature checks for students and staff. These requirements go above and beyond county and state health requirements, which aligns with the District’s prioritization of staff and student health and safety in reopening schools this fall. The presentation also covered considerations for the District’s proposed proactive COVID-19 testing program following the Board’s August 27 Special Meeting. Referring to existing Board Policies and Administrative Regulations addressing infectious disease as it relates to staff and students, Superintendent Brentlinger outlined four testing options for Board discussion and approval for implementation prior to the start of school for all Onsite Scholars and staff: Follow only the state and county testing guidelines Send employees for COVID-19 testing upon exhibiting symptoms  Send employees for county surveillance every eight weeks  Implement re-entry testing for employees only Implement re-entry testing for employees and students Implement re-entry testing and asymptomatic testing for employees and onsite students  With the Board unanimously approving Option 4, the process for proactive testing began with an immediate pre-registration process, supported by professional testing staff and technicians from UC San Diego Health. Maintaining physical distancing, students will be accompanied by their parents/guardians and tests will be administered by the technicians prior to the start of school during the period of September 15-17, 2020. A detailed email was sent to staff and families on September 11, 2020, through ParentSquare and is also available on the District’s website. The more gentle (lower nasal cavity) molecular test that will be used is considered “gold standard” in COVID-19 testing programs. Regarding confidentiality and privacy, results for tests will be returned directly to parents/guardians and employees, and not the school district. Procedures following a positive test result for COVID-19 would follow state and county health guidelines for quarantine, involve notification to the District, and be kept confidential by district staff. District communication would be initiated with those in “close contact” with a student or staff member that has tested positive, as required per health guidelines. All staff will be required to test and all families will be strongly recommended to participate in the testing process prior to the start of school. Superintendent Brentlinger also outlined the costs and timelines for fall and future testing. She addressed the question of “why go above and beyond” with a districtwide, proactive testing program. The proactive testing program is intended to promote the health and safety of adult staff members and students, while doing everything possible to keep schools and classrooms open and our Onsite Scholars and teachers on our physical campuses. View the entire Reopening Schools Board Presentation for September 10, 2020   (all information is posted on the District’s website, www.sbsd.net ). Board Holds Public Hearing on Proposed Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan Senate Bill 98 has established the Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan for the 2020-21 school year. It replaces the LCAP this school year and all school districts are required to complete the Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan. The District’s proposed Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan for 2020-21 is available for public viewing via a link provided on the homepage of the District's website. Printed copies are also available at the District Office. SBSD’s Unaudited Actuals Financial Report for 2019-20 Certified Following a comprehensive presentation by Business Services Assistant Superintendent Lisa Davis, the Board approved and certified the District’s 2019-20 Unaudited Actuals Financial Report . In the first year of a multi-year plan, the District was able to reduce expenditures to revenues received, moving the district in the right direction of reducing deficit spending. Board Approves School Fees Resolution Following Justification Study The District conducted a School Fee Justification Study this spring/summer to provide justification for the Board to consider approving an increase in statutory school fees (“Level I School Fees”) that may be imposed on new residential and commercial/industrial construction located within the boundaries of the School District pursuant to Government Code Section 65995 and Education Code Section 17620. Following the public hearing, the Board voted to approve the resolution. Upcoming Board Meeting Join Us Again! The Solana Beach School District is currently hosting all Board meetings via Zoom video conferencing. Join us using the link below: SBSD Board meeting link Next Regular Board Meeting October 8, 2020, 6:30 p.m. Follow Us!  #SBSDEDU

Tuesday, Sep 15 2020

Attention Onsite Scholars Families! COVID-19 Testing...

September 14, 2020 Dear Solana Beach Onsite Scholar Families, As we continue to gear up for our return to physical campuses next week, please find this important message about COVID-19 testing for students in the Onsite Scholars model. This message is for those families who preregistered and for those that are still interested in participating in the COVID-19 re-entry screening.   Again, testing is being scheduled for students enrolled in the Onsite Scholars model and is not for our students in Online Scholars.   Please find the schedule for the three testing dates and locations:  TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 - Skyline Theater Skyline/Solana Vista Last Name 8:00 - 9:00 A-B 56 Students 9:00 - 10:00 C-D 58 Students 10:00 - 11:00 E- G 67 Students 11:00 - 12:00 H - K 63 Students 1:00 - 2:00 L-M 72 Students 2:00 - 3:00 N-R 56 Students 3:00 - 4:00 S-U 59 Students 4:00 - 5:00  V-Z 33 Students WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 - Solana Ranch Multipurpose Room Solana Santa Fe/Solana Ranch Last Name 8:00 - 9:30 A- C 81 Students 9:30 - 11:00 D - H 76 Students 11:00 - 12:15 I - M 69 Students 1:15 - 2:30 N-R 50 Students 2:30 - 3:30 S-T 52 Students 3:30 - 5:00 U-Z 42 Students THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 - Solana Pacific Theater Carmel Creek/Solana Highlands/ Solana Pacific Last Name 8:00 - 9:30 A - C 74 Students 9:30 - 11:00 D - G 71 Students 11:00 - 12:15 H - K 75 Students 1:15 - 2:30 L - M 94 Students   2:30 - 3:30 N - R 82 Students 3:30 - 4:30 S - V 73 Students 4:30 - 5:00 W - Z 38 Students I am pleased to share that we had over 1,300 students preregister by Saturday evening.  We are working with UC San Diego Health to accommodate students who were unable to preregister, and it appears we will be able to accommodate additional students on Wednesday, September 16 at the Solana Ranch testing site between 1:15 and 5:00 p.m. Parents will be given a hard copy registration form to complete onsite, so preregistration is not necessary.  SBSD is strongly recommending all Onsite Scholars students get tested therefore, it is our desire to support testing for all Onsite Scholars this week. Sincerely, Jodee Brentlinger, Superintendent

Monday, Sep 14 2020