Indoor masking is still required by the state for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in public transportation; health care settings; congregate settings like correctional facilities and homeless shelters; long-term care facilities; and in K-12 schools and childcare settings. February 09, 2022. Vaccination rates vary from county to county, and often by race and ethnicity. Additionally. Dr. Jeanne Noble, a UCSF emergency physician who has pushed for removing the state schools mandate, questioned the logic of keeping kids masked in classrooms when the state no longer requires unvaccinated adults to wear a mask in restaurants, bars or gyms. Californias regions dont experience the pandemic the same way, Ghaly said, acknowledging that mask mandates may remain in place in many areas of the state, depending on local viral trends and community input. The state decision comes days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unveiled new parameters for describing the level of virus in a community, and allowed that masks are no longer recommended in most settings, including schools, in most parts of the United States. All rights reserved. California Gov. After reaching a high on January 10 of 248.7 cases per day per 100,000 residents, Sonoma Countys case rates have declined to 77.0 cases as of today. Its very hard to reason your way through that logic without coming back to teachers unions and fear-based policy.. School mask mandates became an especially contentious issue after California dropped its universal masking requiring for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, two weeks ago. The change aligns with the California Department of Public Healths decision to let expire the statewide indoor mask requirement, which was instated on December 15 during the latest COVID-19 surge. Speakers at the Tuesday forum argued that extending mask mandates for a few weeks or through the end of the school year would help control case loads, protecting school employees, students and the larger community, especially those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Students, teachers, and staff were so excited about the first day of school, and I saw an incredible amount of enthusiasm and joy throughout the District. Special Board Meeting, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone. Physical distancing will not be required. Here are some other important highlights from the current guidance: As a public school district, we are required to follow County Department of Public Health (CDPH) guidelines which require that masks be worn at school while indoors for everybody, regardless of vaccination status. She was part of a reporting team that won a Polk Award for regional reporting in 2005, for a series of stories on outsourcing jobs from Santa Rosa to Penang, Malaysia. CDC's "Symptoms of COVID-19" can be found. Please see below for an image of that checklist. The California Association of School Administrators said the issue must be left to local control. As weather conditions allow, students will enjoy outdoor dining whenever feasible. school board member apologizes. No off-topic remarks. Keeping our school community safe is a shared commitment, and to that end, we are once again requesting that you submit a daily health screening via ParentSquare every day before coming to campus.

California officials said Monday that they felt confident lifting their school mandate in 11 days, when they anticipate coronavirus cases will be at a much lower, more manageable level in almost all communities. She is a frequent guest on KQED's "Newroom" television show and "Forum" radio show. Businesses, venue operators and hosts may determine their own paths forward to protect staff and patrons and may choose to require all patrons to wear masks. The state will continue to provide schools with mitigation resources, testing, and the procurement of masks. His final act: a scorching After making racist statement, S.F.

Santa Rosa,CA | Developing Effective Communicators & Critical Thinkers, Welcome to the 2021-22 school year! Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Vaccinations for children under 5 are currently undergoing federal review. Any changes to the policy would be part of a broader conversation with county health officials and labor groups. De acuerdo al estatuto BB9323, la mesa directiva reconoce la importancia de la participacin pblica en las reuniones de la mesa directiva, ya sea en persona o virtualmente. De acuerdo con la Seccin 54953.3 del Cdigo de Gobierno, los miembros del pblicopueden asistira una reunin de la mesa directiva en persona o virtualmente y no estn obligados a registrar su nombre ni proporcionar otra informacin. Parents speaking at the forum voiced concern that many children are still not vaccinated, making outbreaks at school more likely. The San Francisco Art Institute is closed. Right now, only about half of children ages 5 to 11 have received a shot, and improving on that number will be essential in keeping future case surges and mandates at bay.. Vulnerable school populations such as children not eligible for vaccination, students with compromised immune systems, and students with chronic conditions are encouraged to continue wearing masks at school. In the meantime, you can go to our website for information about the daily screening process on ParentSquare for your review and reference. Increased custodial services will continue in order to ensure high touch surfaces are. Very few POUSD students are bus riders.

Current Sonoma County vaccination rates as of last week are: 85% of the general population has been fully vaccinated, 46.8% of the pediatric population age 5 to 11 have been fully or partially vaccinated, 85.7% of the juvenile population age 12 to 17 have been fully or partially vaccinated. Staying up to date on vaccinations, meaning primary series and boosters when eligible, remains the most important way to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. As we shift toward treating COVID-19 as endemic, we reiterate that the safety of our school communities must be the guiding factor for any decisions affecting our students and staff.. Officials ask residents and visitors to be kind and respectful as people evaluate their risks and make choices to protect themselves and those around them. Keeping our school community safe is a shared commitment, and to that end, we are once again requesting that you submit a daily health screening via ParentSquare every day before coming to campus. Copies of SVUSDs uniform complaint procedures policy (1312.3) and SVUSDs non-discrimination/harassment policy (5145.3) are available upon request. By aligning with the state masking rules, the participating Bay Area counties will not need to meet previously established criteria for lifting local masking orders, which were devised at a different point in the pandemic. Dr. Susan Philip, the San Francisco health officer, said it was a positive step for the city to adopt the state guidance and drop the mandate, but we know districts and schools may decide for themselves how they want to proceed., At the (Department of Public Health), were thinking citywide, what is that picture. On behalf of Petaluma City Schools, thank you very much for your support with this simple, but important preventative measure. California will join Oregon and Washington in lifting the mandate, officials announced Monday. REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AGENDA FOR 6/21/2022. 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM Before joining The Chronicle, Erin worked at newspapers all over the Bay Area and covered a little of everything, including business and technology, city government, and education. In accordance with Government Code Section 54953.3, members of the public may, SVUSD Board Meetings are live-streamed via. Dunbar ELAC Committee, Power School Parent Guides / Guas para Padres View All, 17850 Railroad Avenue Sonoma, CA 95476 707-935-6000 fax:Accessibility, Under BB9323, the board recognizes the importance of public participation at board meetings, whether in-person or virtually. On behalf of Petaluma City Schools, thank you very much for your support with this simple, but important preventative measure. District programs, activities, and practices shall be free from unlawful discrimination, including discrimination against an individual or group based on race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information; a perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. Local health departments and school boards will be able to require their own masking policies in schools which are appropriate for their communities. Sin embargo, las personas que se presenten a exponer sobre un tema, tanto en persona como virtualmente, debern presentar unatarjeta de ponenteindicando su nombre y el tema de la agenda que desean tratar y presentarla al Asistente Ejecutivo del Superintendente antes del comienzo de la reunin. ), At the March 8 forum, Mase urged attendees to Please take your message to school districts, because theyre making the decisions for us about the masking of kids.. The countys 40 school districts will be allowed to enforce stricter face covering rules than those imposed by the state.

Sonoma County Office of Education Superintendent Steven Herrington says unvaccinated school staff members and parent volunteers will need to keep their masks on indoors, and may eventually need to undergo weekly coronavirus testing. Students will be given outdoor mask breaks throughout the day when it is safe to do so. Sonoma County health and education leaders will still strongly recommend students wear masks indoors after tomorrow. A combination of preventative strategies, which included mask use, vaccination, boosters and testing, along with the communitys cooperation helped get the Bay Area through this last surge together as a stronger community. Districts may keep masks in place even in counties that dont have local mandates. Non-Discrimination Statement Sonoma Valley Unified School District programs, activities, and practices shall be free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived ancestry, race, color, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression, or genetic information; or on the basis of a persons association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. A statewide poll conducted in the first two weeks of February by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found 65% of registered voters supported the state mask mandate in schools, with 74% of those in the Bay Area saying they want to continue seeing adults and students wear the face coverings. Instructional Resources for Distant Learning, Piner-Olivet Educational Foundation (POEF), All members of the POUSD community are responsible for self-monitoring their health. The Sonoma County Office of Education will work with the countys 40 school districts to explain and ensure compliance with the new masking guidance. Omicron is still with us, and it is still having a disproportionate impact on our Latinx and immigrant community.There are already not enough teachers in our schools, so taking away masks will put them at risk as well as our children, especially those with health problems or disabilities. This is a carousel. Reaching out to school districts will be a time-consuming affair for parents looking to offer their opinion on masking. Northwest Prep is expanding its Home Study program for the 2021-22 school year to serve students K-12.

And many parents still want to keep masks. School mask mandates are quickly falling across the United States as the country emerges from a winter surge fueled by the omicron variant. Erin started her journalism career at the Daily Californian student newspaper and many years later still calls Berkeley her home. No member of the community should come to school should they be experiencing COVID-related symptoms. SCDPHs updated guidance is available in English. COVID-19 Map: Data on trends in the Bay Area and across California, Latest news: Complete coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Freitas also expressed concern that the states decision could result in backlash against those who still want to wear masks. Your childs school will send out periodic reminders to review the checklist daily with your child. California will stop requiring masks in K-12 schools as of March 12, leaving it up to counties and school districts to keep or ditch the pandemic mandate as tension mounts among parents, who are divided over whether or not face coverings should stay on children. Munis long-delayed Central Subway has had another setback. Jana Asenbrennerova / Special to The Chronicle. Sonoma County, which has a population of just shy of half a million residents, has 40 school districts. Community members who are vaccinated and choose not to mask should respect the choices of those who continue to mask. Children under five are still not allowed to receive the vaccine. Continuing to mask in indoor public settings, especially crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, remains the safest choice for an individual and protects those who are medically vulnerable or are not able to get vaccinated, such as our youngest children. The contact for these programs is, Air Quality Resources for Fire and Smoke. Copyright 2002-2022 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Welcome to the 2021-22 school year! While overall vaccination rates are high and transmission rates are low in San Francisco, school officials said Monday that there will be no change to masking protocols. Today is an important day for California one that is driven by the data and the science. But each institution knows their students and families, and can make a decision that may be more health protective, Philip said.

Noon-1230pm, Community Conversations On Race Thurs. Each classroom will exercise ongoing hand hygiene routines throughout the school day. TO MASK OR NOT The Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Education will discuss whether or not to extend a Covid-19 mask mandate at a March 9 meeting. encouraged to bring a labeled water bottle to school daily for refilling. Those students that do ride the bus to school, will be required to wear a mask while on the bus. Our children can wear masks for a little longer to protect themselves, and our community, added Irma Garcia, an immigrant community member, mother of two and board president of the North Bay Organizing Project. official calls for resignation of school board member Ann Hsu Foster Citys plan to kill more than 100 geese, potentially by spinal Big ESPYS night for Warriors: Curry hosts, wins 2; Klay and team S.F. Neighbors and home buyers Top S.F. The decision at the district level countered San Francisco health officials, who announced late Monday they would follow the states lead and lift the mask mandate in city schools in less than two weeks. Masks were considered by most a critical tool for keeping schools safely open, especially through a fall coronavirus surge fueled by the delta variant, and later the winter omicron wave. Current Sonoma County vaccination rates as of last week are: 80% of the general population has been fully vaccinated, 46% of the pediatric population age 5 to 11 have been fully or partially vaccinated, 77% of the juvenile population age 12 to 17 have been fully or partially vaccinated. Unvaccinated individuals over age 2 will continue to be required to wear masks in all indoor public settings. Both of these programs are an excellent way to facilitate home-based learning. Most importantly, all students will be treated equally regardless of vaccination status. Per the California Department of Public Healths (CDPH) COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2021-22 School Year, all public and private schools in the State of California are mandated to require universal masking while students are indoors at school for two key reasons: In Petaluma City Schools, students at all levels are expected to wear a mask in the morning upon arriving to campus so school site staff know your child is ready to enter the classroom. No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. Twelve Bay Area Health Officers to Lift Most Indoor Mask Mandates on February 16, Sonoma County Climate Resilient Lands Strategy, remains the safest choice for an individual, Become a certified small business contractor or supplier, Find certified small business contractors or suppliers, Agriculture, Weights & Measures Department, Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector, Clerk-Recorder-Assessor-Registrar of Voters, Equal Employment Opportunity / ADA Public Access, Independent Office of Law Enforcement Review and Outreach, Sonoma County Employee's Retirement Association. Governor Newsom today announced the lifting of the states mask mandate for public and private schools, as well as childcare centers, to take effect at the end of day on Friday, March 11. Mase added the countys recent health order dropping mask mandates in most public spaces for vaccinated individuals does not mean in any way that we dont think that masking is one of the most important things for our community, to protect our kids, to protect everybody from Covid., In aFeb. 9 statementannouncing the upcoming health order, county officials strongly recommended masks be used as an effective tool to prevent the spread of the virus especially when case rates are high, or when additional personal protection is needed.(In a Feb. 15open letterto county officials, Sonoma County healthcare workers and community organizers urged the county to extend broader mask mandates a few more weeks until the end of the current Omicron surge. The county did not do so. The SCOE will work with the countys 40 school districts to explain and ensure compliance with the new masking guidance. On Friday, February 25, 2022. This is a really scary prospect for a lot of people and I really welcome everything that youve said, Dr. Sundari Mase, Sonoma Countys health officer, said during a public comment portion of the forum. Alameda County officials said they would decide later this week whether to align with the state. shuts down Mission District plaza as it Piedmont saw its official homeless count spike. What a great day to be in Petaluma City Schools. But increasingly, parents and students backed by a growing cadre of doctors and other health experts have pushed to end the state mandate, arguing that masks could have harmful effects on academic and social development. We are asking you to be mindful of this every day, diligently monitor for symptoms, and review the checklist on your own or with your child. Hospitalizations, a lagging indicator of transmission spread, have also declined and never exceeded local capacity during the surge because of the countys high overall rates of vaccination (79.4 percent) and boosters (61.6 percent), along with a local health order that temporarily restricted the size of large gatherings to prevent superspreader events during the peak of the surge. for your review and reference. The state will continue to provide schools with mitigation resources, testing, and the procurement of masks. According SCDPH, the foundational principle of the updated guidance from the State for schools continues to be that, this school year. Universal indoor masking will continue to be in effect at SFUSD as part of our layered approach to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our schools, said district Deputy Superintendent Gentle Blythe. California will stop requiring masks in K-12 schools as of March 12, leaving it up to counties and school districts to keep or ditch the pandemic mandate as tension mounts among parents who no longer want to put face coverings on kids. I understand where youre coming from. In alignment with the State, the Bay Area counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and the City of Berkeley will lift universal mask requirements for most indoor public settings beginning Wednesday, February 16. He spent 17 years as a priest in exile. On Tuesday, a coalition of Sonoma County medical professionals, parents, teachers and students called for an extension of local mask mandates in order to protect residents hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. all public and private schools in the State of California are mandated to require universal masking while students are indoors at school for two key reasons: Masks are one of the most effective and simplest safety mitigation measures to prevent in-school transmission of COVID-19 infections. While there are a lot of people very excited about (lifting the mandate), there are also families and people who are worried.. Many advocates for school mandates have said that keeping them in place was important for protecting all students and their families. California instituted its statewide mandate at the end of last summer, when many schools reopened to in-person instruction for the first time in more than a year. Per the California Department of Public Healths (CDPH), COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2021-22 School Year. According to county data, only 39% of children aged 5-11 have been fully vaccinated, compared to 81% of Sonoma Countys overall population.

In the absence of a statewide requirement, local school districts may independently decide to keep mask mandates in place. Bay Area health officers, in alignment with the CDPH, continue to strongly recommend masks be used as an effective tool to prevent the spread of the virus especially when case rates are high, or when additional personal protection is needed. People should continue to choose layered prevention strategies, such as wearing well-fitted masks (N95 or double layer cloth over surgical are best); staying home and testing when symptomatic; testing before gatherings; and improving indoor ventilation in situations where these strategies can add protection for themselves and others. Students passes by a sign on the wall at Rosa Parks Elementary School, as she heads outside with her classmates to attends an event to commemorate the unveiling of a mural in honor of Earl Gage Jr., San Franciscos first Black firefighter. LA PLAZA: 850 W 9th STREET SANTA ROSA, CA95401 ROOM/SALN 502/203 PH: (707) 393-8700. Special Education/Behavioral Health Services, 5340 Skylane Boulevard, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday @jilltucker. Changes to health orders and recommendations may be updated as Health Officers follow the science and the data to evaluate whether additional protective measures may be needed as the virus evolves and if future surges occur. Schools must also continue to have robust testing and proper ventilation in place before making masks optional.. In Sonoma County, that means 40 separate school boards will decide whether or not to require students and staff to wear masks after the state requirement lapses on Friday, March 11. At the time, state officials said they were not lifting the mandate for schools, which they held out as unique spaces requiring extra layers of precaution. San Francisco, California. All states will urge unvaccinated adults and students to continue wearing masks in schools. Weve really lost public health justification to have kids masked, said Noble, director of COVID response at UCSF Emergency Department. Inlate February, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state would no longer require schools and child care facilities to require masks. Heres who will investigate San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins on Thursday announced the promotions of three veteran prosecutors as at least six employees announced their departures. CASE LOAD A slide showing the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Sonoma Countys Latino, Indigenous and Black populations. As evidence continues to show, vaccinations and boosters remain the best defense against the virus. Sonoma County school-aged residents 17 years old and younger have accounted 22% of cases throughout the pandemic and 25% of cases in the past 60 days, according to the countysdata dashboard. Her work has generated changes to state law and spurred political and community action to address local needs. Students are. As we make this shift toward encouraging everyone to assess their own individual risk, I strongly recommend people who face the greatest risk of illness our seniors, essential workers and people with underlying health conditions and the people who care about them to continue to wear their masks indoors in public settings.While wearing a mask indoors is no longer mandatory for people who are vaccinated, it remains a smart and simple way to protect yourself and the people around you.". We commend the state for continuing to prioritize the health and safety of our students and public educators during the pandemic, said Edgar Zazueta, senior director of policy and governmental affairs. Safe in-person instruction is essential for healthy school communities. There is no scientific justification for a student in Roseville to be able to unmask while a student in Oakland cannot. What a great day to be in Petaluma City Schools. Thank you for continuing to place your trust in our school district and we all look forward to a great second day of school tomorrow! For families interested in a Independent Study program for 2021-22, we have two potential options. Gov. A first grade music class at Roosevelt Elementary in Burlingame, Calif. Thursday, November 18, 2021. o assist you in determining whether or not you may be symptomatic for COVID. California will stop requiring masks in K-12 schools as of March 12, leaving it up to counties and school districts to keep or ditch the pandemic mandate as tension mounts among parents who no longer want to put face coverings on kids. COVID-19 is still spreading twice as fast in our community today as it was during the peak of the delta surge last August. Erin Allday is a health reporter who writes about infectious diseases, stem cells, neuroscience and consumer health topics like fitness and nutrition. San Francisco will not be among the districts allowing students to pull off the masks.

The mask mandate also will be dropped for California child care facilities. The countys largest school district, Santa Rosa City Schools, has not yet made a decision. We follow CDPH and Sonoma County Department of Health Services guidance as a school community because, above all, we want to prevent the spread of this virus and ensure a safe, vibrant, and full school year for all PCS students and staff. Gavin Newsom last month announced the lifting of the states mask mandate for public and private schools, as well as childcare centers, which will take effect at the end of day on Friday, March 11. Noon-1PM, 17-Acre Fire Near Boonville 90-Percent Contained, CPUC Requiring Uber and Lyft to Address Preventing Sexual Assaults, New Wine Auction Bill Benefits Nonprofits and Trade Organizations, USC Professor: Gas Prices Will Continue to Drop Through Summer. The forum, which centered the experience of the countys Latinx and immigrant communities, came in response to the states decision roll back many pandemic restrictions as part of the states newendemic strategy. Brooke Jenkins fills more key positions. Jill Tucker has covered education in California for 22 years, writing stories that range from issues facing Bay Area school districts to broader national policy debates. New York City is lifting its school mask mandate on Wednesday. Your childs school will send out periodic reminders to review the checklist daily with your child. Vaccines have been proven to save lives and reduce transmissions. La Plazais a program of On The Move, a 501(c)(3) that partners with communities and mobilizes emerging leaders to take action in pursuit of social equity. The districts Board of Education will discuss extending the school mask mandates and other matters at ameeting tonight. Carpe Diem & Sonoma Mountain High Schools, McKinley School & Petaluma Accelerated Charter, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated).