We are in the Red Tier and our school will be opened from TK-8 on March 17th, 2021

Dear colleagues,

 

I am writing to share the most up to date health orders from our five local public health departments regarding new guidance for the reopening of grades TK-12 in the Red Tier:

 

• Santa Barbara County: https://countyofsb.org/uploadedFiles/phd/PROGRAMS/Disease_Control/Corona/HOO%202021-12-3.pdf

 

The county will move into the Red Tier on Tuesday, March 16^th and all TK-12 grades will be permitted to reopen on Wednesday, March 17^th.  Schools not already open under the previous Red Tier status are permitted to reopen under the January 14, 2021 CDPH guidelines (attached).  CSP/CPP plans must be posted on the school’s website or made available in a public place on-campus.  Schools reopening new grade levels must revise and repost. 

 

• Ventura County: https://vcportal.ventura.org/covid19/docs/COVID-19_and_Schools_FAQ_03-08-2021.pdf

 

The county will move into the Red Tier on Tuesday, March 16^th and all TK-12 grades will be permitted to reopen on Wednesday, March 17^th.  Schools not already open under the previous Red Tier status are permitted to reopen under the January 14, 2021 CDPH guidelines (attached).   CSP/CPP plans must be posted on the school’s website or made available in a public place on-campus.  Schools reopening new grade levels must revise and repost. 

 

• Pasadena: https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-health/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/Health-Order-Implementing-Blueprint-Red-Tier.pdf?v=1615645486130

 

The city will enter the Red Tier on Monday, March 15^th and all TK-12 grades will be permitted to reopen on Monday, March 15^th. Schools will reopen under the January 14, 2021 CDPH guidelines and are advised to review all City of Pasadena requirements: https://www.cityofpasadena.net/covid-19/#info-for-schools CSP/CPP plans must be posted on the school’s website or made available in a public place on-campus.  Schools reopening new grade levels must revise and repost. 

 

• Long Beach: http://www.longbeach.gov/health/diseases-and-condition/information-on/coronavirus/schools/

 

The city will move into the Red Tier on Monday, March 15^th and all TK-12 grades will be permitted to reopen on Monday, March 15^th. Schools will reopen under the January 14, 2021 CDPH guidelines and are advised to review all City of Long Beach requirements: http://www.longbeach.gov/health/diseases-and-condition/information-on/coronavirus/schools/  CSP/CPP plans must be posted on the school’s website or made available in a public place on-campus.  Schools adding grade levels must revise and repost.  Submissions of these documents to the city is no longer required.

 

• Los Angeles County: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/protocols/Reopening_K12Schools.pdf

 

The county will move into the Red Tier on Monday, March 15^th and all TK-12 grades will be permitted to reopen on Wednesday, March 17^th (or five days after the submission of the LACDPH cover letter and checklist; see below).  It’s important to note the following:

 

• • New guidance highlights:
    • Reopening status: Any school providing in-person instruction for at least one day is considered “reopened”.  If the county should return to the purple tier, any reopened school will be permitted to stay open.  Any school that does not reopen will be subject to purple tier restrictions IF the county returns to that tier.  All schools should plan to phase-in reopening within three weeks under the county’s grace period.
    • Cohorts/Stable Groups: While recommended (see guidance for details) there are NO numeric requirements for cohorts/stable groups. 
    • Classroom distancing: The six foot rule still stands, but if schools are unable to achieve this spacing in classrooms, they are permitted to distance student desks no less than 4 feet with barriers. 
    • Daily teacher rotations: There is NO restriction on the number of cohort/stable groups a teacher can teach daily. 
    • Quarantining: Quarantining whole cohorts/stable groups if there is a positive case is no longer required.  Quarantining will be based on close contacts only.  LACDPH will support schools with determining who needs to be quarantined based on the number of established close contacts on-campus.
    • Asymptomatic testing: Not required for resumption of in-person instruction.
    • Liturgical activities: Though not expressed in the TK-12 guidance, schools are to follow the Places of Worship guidance.  
    • Gatherings/Events: LACDPH has stated that there will be forthcoming guidance on events like graduations and other end-of-year school events.  Schools are advised to maintain all of the Red Tier restrictions and not gather indoors for non-instruction activities.  Outdoor gatherings MUST follow all distancing, masking and hygiene requirements and should be limited to only essential activity. 
      • NOTE:  According to LACDPH, at the current rate of case rate, positivity rate and hospitalization declination AND increase of vaccinations, it’s possible LA County could achieve Orange Tier status within three weeks.  Schools should take this into consideration before making plans for the months of May and June as conditions may be improved to allow for more event flexibility. 

 

• • Athletics (updated 3/12/21): http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/protocols/Reopening_SportsLeagues.pdf

 

With the achievement of Red Tier, please review the youth sports guidance above for specific details about changes to athletic programming. Schools should take notice of testing guidance for outdoor and indoor sports.

 

• • Exposure Management Plan (updated 3/11/21): http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/protocols/ExposureManagementPlan_K12Schools.pdf

 

• • Documentation requirements:

 

• • • If schools have already submitted their CSP/CPP to the county and state, they are NOT required to resubmit those documents.  They are required to revise these documents to add new grades served and repost to their website or make available in a public place on-campus.  They MUST send LACDPH a new cover document and checklist t if they are adding new grades.

 

• • • If schools have NOT reopened previously and have not submitted a CSP/CPP, cover document and checklist, they MUST do so and wait five days for feedback before reopening.

 

• • • LACDPH Safe Schools for All Hub: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/schools.htm  Here you will find all of the required forms and email contacts for submission:
      • Cover information
      • School protocol/checklist
      • Submittal email addresses
      • TK-12 Hotline: (877) 777-5749

 

• Travel Advisory:  The CDPH Travel Advisory remains in place: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/Travel-Advisory.aspx

 

Given the improvement of public health conditions, the likelihood of families and staff traveling during Easter Break is high.  Schools are encouraged to remind their communities that non-essential travel beyond 120 miles in-state, out of state and out of country increases the risk of COVID-19 and per the advisory should self-quarantine for 10 days.  To ensure the school environment is not compromised upon return from break, we strongly advise schools ask their community members to follow the advisory to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission within their families and on-campus. 

 

One year ago today, the Archbishop and I announced the transition to distance learning for all ADLA schools.  At that time we were advised that distance learning would last for two weeks.  It’s been twelve months since that day and not a moment goes by that I do not think about all that you, your staff, families, congregations and students have endured.  The amount of personal sacrifice, loss, pain and suffering cannot be quantified.  Simply put, the trauma we have experienced and continue to live through will require healing on a level the world has not witnessed in over 100 years.  But, we will heal – we will carry on.

 

While the pandemic and the painful consequences that have resulted from are far from over, this special Lenten season offers an opportunity to grieve and to begin to heal as a society.  Though we are still in the pandemic tunnel, the light in the distance is shining brighter every day.  The light is His love – we must follow it and embrace His healing and comfort.  On this one-year anniversary of the announcement of distance learning, let us commit to restoring and rebuilding our Catholic school communities.  Let us welcome our children “home” safely and continue to show the world that Christ’s presence is in our schools.  He is the Way, the Truth and the Life that will bring us back to the fullness of our communal ministry.  

 

Thank you.

 

Yours in Christ,

 

Paul