OCDE Education in the News

Monday, March 8, 2021

OCDE NEWSROOM

Anaheim Elementary School District partners with Yamaha to turn instruments into works for art

Musical instruments that can’t be sold are getting new life as vibrant pieces of visual art thanks to students, families, teachers and other local artists in the Anaheim Elementary School District. AESD is one of four organizations in Orange County that recently received blemished guitars, cellos and violins through The Yamaha Cares Upcycle Program. From there, they became canvases for intricate works of art — or were reimagined into something else entirely. You’ll get a chance to see these creations in person — or even buy one — from March 12 through the end of April at the Able ARTS Work gallery in Long Beach. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the Anaheim instruments will benefit the district.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/anaheim-elementary-school-district-upcycles-yamaha-instruments-into-works-for-art/

COVID-19 update: School employees who want to get vaccinated have a few options for getting shots

OCDE is adding new vaccination appointments for school employees each week, but the department’s OC School PODs aren’t the only way for teachers and support staff to their shots. Pharmacy chains including Walgreens, Rite Aid and CVS are also taking appointments based on state eligibility requirements, and many school employees have reported receiving their first shots. Be sure to check their websites for details.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/coronavirus-update/

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Anaheim Union students will finish the year learning remotely

Anaheim Union High School District leaders decided Thursday night, March 4, that it’s too late in the school year for another change, especially one that could still be fraught with pandemic dangers, and its students will continue distance learning until the summer. The district, which serves about 31,000 students in seventh through 12th grade in Anaheim, Cypress and La Palma, has allowed a return to campus for student athletes – about 4,500 so far and growing – and students in visual and performing arts programs – more than 1,000 so far – but expects the bulk of its teachers and students to remain at home for the rest of the school year.

https://www.ocregister.com/2021/03/05/anaheim-union-students-will-finish-the-year-learning-remotely/

Schools reducing capacity on buses for high school sports teams

High schools in Orange County are adjusting their transportation strategies as they prepare to bus sports teams to competitions for the first time during the pandemic. The state health department has in recent weeks cleared most high school sports competitions – outdoors and indoors – to resume under safety guidelines, including COVID-19 testing for indoor sports, football and water polo. But the return of football could require school districts, starting next week, to transport teams that typically include a large number of players.

https://www.ocregister.com/2021/03/06/schools-reducing-capacity-on-buses-for-high-school-sports-teams/

Spectators won’t be allowed to attend Santa Ana public school athletic events

The SAUSD superintendent said that for health reasons ‘these events are closed’ to parents, media and other community members. Bands and cheerleaders will also not be allowed at SAUSD athletic events until further notice. Santa Ana has been hit hard by COVID-19. It’s public school sports teams started practices much later than high school teams in most other Orange County communities.

https://www.ocregister.com/2021/03/05/spectators-wont-be-allowed-to-attend-santa-ana-public-school-athletic-events/

LOS ANGELES TIMES

This high school reopened two months ago, with no COVID-19 outbreaks. Here’s how

Northern California Catholic schools, including high schools, have opened campuses five days a week, with few virus outbreaks. Science and discipline have helped.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-03-08/california-high-school-reopened-no-covid-outbreaks

SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE

State denies San Diego County districts’ reopening applications, causing frustration

The state denied at least two San Diego County school districts late Sunday the chance to reopen their middle and high schools, even though the districts said they had received the county’s blessing to reopen. The state told San Dieguito and Poway Sunday they are not allowed to open their middle and high schools during the purple tier.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/story/2021-03-08/state-denies-san-diego-districts-reopening-applications-causing-frustration

“Not worth the risk”: Some families do not want to return to school anytime soon

In San Diego County, a sample of school district surveys of parent preferences shows most parents want in-person school to resume. But in higher-poverty school districts, support for in-person learning tends to be lower, a San Diego Union-Tribune analysis shows.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/story/2021-03-07/not-worth-the-risk-some-families-do-not-want-to-return-to-school-anytime-soon

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

S.F. public schools to reopen starting April 12 after union, district reach tentative deal

San Francisco school officials plan to reopen classrooms for some of the youngest students beginning April 12 under a tentative deal reached with the teachers union, according to a newspaper report. The school board still needs to vote on the deal.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/SF-schools-SFUSD-reopening-deal-16005302.php

Here's what S.F. parents think about the deal to bring some students back to the classroom in April

Parents’ excitement about San Francisco schools finally reopening in April turned glum Saturday as most realized that their children were not included in the latest plan.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/education/article/Here-s-what-S-F-parents-think-about-the-deal-16006399.php

USA TODAY

Students are struggling to read behind masks and screens during COVID-19, but ‘expectations are no different’

Reading brings out the competitor in 8-year-old Uriah Hargrave. The second grader at Eaton Park Elementary in Vermilion Parish along Louisiana's southwest coast was thrilled to return to in-person learning in January. One of his favorite things is the Accelerated Reader program in which he wins points for the books he reads.

https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/education/2021/03/07/learning-read-amid-covid-online-school-person-kids-lag-behind/4545832001/

Kids still aren't learning LGBTQ history. The Equality Act might change that.

The Equality Act, a law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, is moving to the Senate after being passed by the House of Representatives – and it could affect what's taught in classrooms. The Equality Act enables protections within education, particularly with how teachers implement LGBTQ inclusive curriculum.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2021/03/06/lgbtq-history-equality-education-act-teachers/6648601002/

FRESNO BEE

Politicians, parents blame Fresno Unified superintendent and union for keeping kids from school

Dozens of parents, teachers and students stood outside Fresno City Hall on Saturday alongside Councilman Garry Bredefeld as he called for Fresno Unified to open its doors to all children immediately — condemning the superintendent and teachers union for “a year of sheer destruction for our children.”

https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/education-lab/article249733583.html

EDSOURCE

Bay Area school district among first to announce plans for summer school

West Contra Costa Unified plans to confront widespread learning loss and prepare students of all grades for the “new normal” of returning to the classroom by enhancing its summer school, which will mostly be in-person.

https://edsource.org/2021/bay-area-school-district-among-first-to-announce-plans-for-summer-school/650681

MODESTO BEE

Gavin Newsom signs school reopening deal pressuring districts to get kids back into class

Nearly a year after California classrooms shuttered in the early weeks of the COVID-19 crisis, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Friday to send $2 billion to help schools reopen by April 1.

https://www.modbee.com/news/local/education/article249716938.html

DAILY BREEZE

UTLA members ‘overwhelmingly’ vote to refuse to return to in-person work until all conditions met

Los Angeles Unified teachers and other school employees represented by the local teachers union drew a line in the sand this week by voting overwhelmingly to refuse to return for in-person work if officials make it mandatory before all three conditions the union has asked for to ensure schools reopen safely are met, the union announced Friday, March 5. Out of about 35,000 teachers, counselors, librarians, school nurses and other certificated staff represented by United Teachers Los Angeles, 24,580 cast ballots. Of those who voted, 91% supported a refusal to return to campuses, UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz announced during a Facebook Live broadcast.

https://www.dailybreeze.com/2021/03/05/utla-members-overwhelmingly-vote-to-refuse-to-return-to-in-person-work-until-all-conditions-met/

LAGUNA BEACH INDEPENDENT

Laguna Beach High, Thurston still set for March 17 reopening

The Laguna Beach Unified School District remains on track to reopen secondary schools to in-person classes on March 17 even though earlier this week Orange County narrowly missed a metric needed to enter the less-restrictive red tier, the superintendent said Thursday. In a statement to the region’s school district superintendents, Orange County Superintendent Al Mijares said he conferred with Orange County Health Officer Dr. Clayton Chau on Wednesday about the latest trends in COVID-19 cases. Chau confirmed that Orange County should enter the red tier on March 16, allowing K-12 districts to reopen the following day.

https://www.lagunabeachindy.com/laguna-beach-high-thurston-still-set-for-march-17-reopening/

NPR

As Many Parents Fret Over Remote Learning, Some Find Their Kids Are Thriving

Bobby is a sixth grader at North Brookfield Elementary School in western Massachusetts. He's crazy about the Loch Ness monster. He's into math and Minecraft. And he likes online learning. "It's a lot easier to focus," he says. "I can be in my room and be a lot more comfortable doing stuff."

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/08/971457441/as-many-parents-fret-over-remote-learning-some-find-their-kids-are-thriving

OTHER NEWS OUTLETS

New California law aims to put kids in class. Will it work?

California’s public schools can tap into $6.6 billion in a plan Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Friday to try to pressure districts to reopen classrooms by the end of March. Educators, parents and lawmakers question whether it will work. After nearly a year of distance learning for most K-12 students during the coronavirus pandemic, parents in the nation’s most populated state say they are frustrated and losing hope their children will see the inside of a classroom this year.

https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-california-gavin-newsom-bills-laws-313d426e3c076a981714556d1c86507c

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