Dear TUSD Families,
I hope you and your family continue to be healthy and safe. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to adjust, like you, to the drastic changes in the last two months to our daily routines. I am proud of our TUSD community – students, parents, teachers, staff, and administrators – for their positivity, flexibility, and resilience throughout this health emergency.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH) announced late last week that the Safer-At-Home order would continue indefinitely, which means, students WILL NOT RETURN to school for this academic year. We hoped this situation would improve and our students could return to their schools; unfortunately this is no longer possible for this school year.
On May 27, 2020, the Los Angeles County Office of Education plans on releasing return-to-school guidelines that TUSD will use to develop our plan for a safe return to school for the 2020-21 school year. There are still three months until the beginning of school and we know COVID-19 information changes rapidly. We will soon be providing opportunities for parents to offer their input on educational options for the 2020-2021 school year.
Graduation and End-of-the-Year Celebrations:
As you may know, the ongoing order from the LADPH and Board of Supervisors also strictly prohibits gatherings of any size. Per the order, this “means all in-person graduation ceremonies, including use of cars for drive-in graduations (even if one student at a time), are considered public gatherings and are therefore prohibited.” As a result, TUSD will continue with its dual-planning for virtual celebrations as well as variations of in-person ceremonies at a later date.
The recent survey of parents of current 12th graders on a delayed graduation ceremony included 802 responses with results as follows:
● 7% not interested in returning after June 10
● 17% willing to wait up to 30 days
● 31% willing to wait up to 60 days
● 29% willing to wait up to 6 months
● 16% responded as "Other" (many indicating willing to wait up to one year)
Based on the survey responses, TUSD will maintain dual-planning for virtual and in-person graduation events through August 10, 2020. If there is no change to the current Los Angeles County restrictions for large, in-person gatherings prior to August 10, then formal planning for in-person graduations will cease. Still, schools will continue to consider additional less formal ways to accommodate other forms of in-person recognition for the class of 2020 throughout the next school year, knowing a smaller percentage of students and families will attend.
Additionally, elementary and middle schools are also looking at ways in which to modify their end-of-the year activities and promotions to comply with the LADPH order.
All TUSD schools are currently working on plans within the updated guidelines to allow for the safe pick up of student belongings that may still be in lockers or in classrooms. Please expect an announcement from your principal in the coming weeks to guide you on the parameters and plans for gathering student personal items, as well as returning any items/books to the school as appropriate.
We recognize how disappointing this situation is for all our students, especially our seniors. Though our seniors will not have the traditional senior experiences, our schools are creating opportunities to celebrate their accomplishments in meaningful ways.
Sincerely,
George Mannon, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
*Click here for Spanish Translation