By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
Governor Newsom announced his expectation that all school districts and charter school classrooms in California continue with distance learning and other essential supports through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Local school officials and educators are trying to embrace this new idea of distance learning in this unprecedented situation.
“It will take the whole community to get through this, and this is heartbreaking stuff as another development comes down,” said Scott Cory, Superintendent of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School.
While K-12 public school and charter school campuses in Santa Barbara County are closed, distance learning will continue, and Cory said everyone is working on what that framework will look like. Luckily the third quarter for the high school finished shortly before, but going into the last quarter of the year, how the seniors especially get through this.
“These kids who have made it to this point, and will be missing out on all the celebratory events like prom, ditch day, graduation. We are working hard to come up with some solutions to hopefully make it up to them,” Cory said.
School districts continue to plan and implement high-quality distance learning, and work on connectivity and technology needs that address equity and student access for all students.
Cory said he expects to hold a special meeting in the next few days to address this situation with the Board of Education and plan for more than five months of students not being on campus. Details will be available on the District’s website.
“We owe it to the kids to start planning today for the fall as ALL the kids will be affected by this closure and what it might look like on the other side,” Cory said.
Districts throughout Santa Barbara County continue to provide meals for youth while maintaining social distancing. Santa Barbara County’s schools are committed to ensuring students have the resources and services they need to continue their learning and engagement despite the closure of our school facilities.
“We recognize that the situation is not ideal, but we are doing everything possible to ensure your child’s success. Already, plans are emerging to provide additional support this summer, should there be a need to help students succeed in the next grade level, especially for the eighth grade transition to high school,” said Dr. Steve Seaford of Solvang Elementary School in a Parent Square message.
The Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) will continue to work with the California Department of Education and school partners on important topics including grades, credits, and graduation requirements. Specific questions should be directed to the respective school districts.
“We understand that school closures create serious hardships for many families. School districts in Santa Barbara County are following the guidance of the Governor, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and believe this is the most effective way to slow the transmission of this pandemic,” said Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido. “We must do our part by continuing to implement social distancing practices and flatten the curve.”
The Governor also announced a partnership with Google to provide mobile hotspots and Chromebooks to students in rural areas to facilitate distance learning. Specifically, Google will be donating Chromebooks and will fund the use of 100,000 donated mobile hotspots to provide free and unlimited high-speed Internet connectivity for the remainder of the school year. The California Department of Education will be distributing these resources, prioritizing rural communities.
“I am so proud of every sector of our state—private, public, labor—coming together to meet this moment, and I am calling on other companies to match Google’s investment today to ensure our students and teachers have the resources they need to continue their education during this time,” said Governor Newsom.
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Escuelas Públicas K-12 en el Condado de Santa Bárbara permanecerán cerradas hasta el final del año escolar 2019-2020; Los servicios se proporcionarán a través de la enseñanza a distancia
Hoy, el Gobernador Newsom anunció su expectativa de que todos los distritos escolares y las aulas escolares chárter en California continúen con el aprendizaje a distancia y otros apoyos esenciales durante el resto del año escolar 2019-2020. Esto significa que mientras que la escuela pública K-12 y las escuelas chárter en el condado de Santa Bárbara están cerradas, el aprendizaje a distancia continuará.
“Entendemos que los cierres de escuelas crean serias dificultades para muchas familias. Los distritos escolares en el condado de Santa Bárbara están siguiendo la guía del Gobernador, el Superintendente Estatal de Instrucción Pública y el Departamento de Salud Pública del Condado de Santa Bárbara y creen que esta es la manera más efectiva de frenar la transmisión de esta pandemia”, dijo Susan Salcido, Superintendente de Escuelas del Condado de Santa Bárbara. “Debemos hacer nuestra parte continuando implementando prácticas de distanciamiento social y aplanando la curva”.
Los distritos escolares continúan planificando e implementando el aprendizaje a distancia de alta calidad, y trabajan en las necesidades de conectividad y tecnología que abordan la equidad y el acceso de los estudiantes para todos los estudiantes. Los distritos en todo el condado de Santa Bárbara continúan proporcionando comidas para los jóvenes mientras mantienen el distanciamiento social. Las escuelas del Condado de Santa Bárbara están comprometidas a asegurar que los estudiantes tengan los recursos y servicios que necesitan para continuar su aprendizaje y compromiso a pesar del cierre de nuestras instalaciones escolares.
La Oficina de Educación del Condado de Santa Bárbara (SBCEO, por sus siglas en Inglés) continuará trabajando con el Departamento de Educación de California y socios escolares en temas importantes, incluyendo calificaciones, créditos y requisitos de graduación. Las preguntas específicas deben dirigirse a los respectivos distritos escolares.
“Estamos profundamente agradecidos a nuestras comunidades escolares por su flexibilidad durante este tiempo sin precedente, y apreciamos la tremenda resiliencia y creatividad demostradas”, dijo la Dra. Salcido. “Gracias a todos por trabajar juntos para detener la propagación de COVID-19.”
