A: In addition to the task force, another critical component of IUSD’s 2020-21 planning process has been feedback and input from our families. The guidelines established by the California Department of Public Health, the OC Health Care Agency, and OC Department of Education inform all IUSD planning efforts and the design of each proposed academic model for the 2020-21 school year. These guidelines outline important considerations and protocols, including cleaning and disinfecting, physical distancing, face coverings, handwashing, notification and reporting of positive cases, and grouping students into smaller cohorts, to the extent possible. At this time, Orange County remains on the state COVID-19 monitoring list, which means that OC school districts, including IUSD, are not currently permitted to allow students on campus for in-person instruction and will start the school year with online instruction. If high school students cannot even keep up with the physical distancing guidelines, it’s terrifying to think what elementary or middle school students may face while returning to their schools. Note that the district will debut a “Back to School” web page with more detailed and up-to-date information and this page will be updated.) IRVINE, Calif. — In 2020, going back to school has taken on a new meaning for a majority of students. Irvine Unified School District Will Not Follow OC Board of Education’s Reopening Recommendations Evan J. Lancaster July 14, 2020 The Irvine Unified School District has rejected the Orange County Board of Education’s decision to adopt guidelines for school reopening without face masks or social distancing. We understand this can be a source of frustration but it is critical to have an understanding of this unprecedented environment we are navigating together. Irvine Unified reopened its campuses on Sept. 24, spending $21 million on health and safety measures, including personal protective equipment, school and facilities upgrades and the purchase of air purification units. Their work was integral to the design of the proposed academic models. Irvine Unified School District is allowing up to 30 students in a classroom with plexiglass around the desks. A: Since the onset of COVID-19, IUSD has closely monitored the impact of the pandemic, worked with expert agencies, and adapted, as necessary, to help ensure the health and wellbeing of students and staff, while maintaining our promise to provide academic excellence and equity. A: As District staff continues to diligently plan for the upcoming school year, a critical component of these efforts has been IUSD’s 2020-21 task force, which is comprised of District leadership, parents, students, principals, teachers, staff, and school nurses. Fountain Valley School District and Cypress School District have set reopening dates for next week. Irvine Unified School District and Tustin Unified School District The City of Irvine supports the highly regarded and award-winning public school districts that serve the K-12 population – Irvine Unified School District and schools located in Irvine that are overseen by the Tustin Unified School District. As part of the Irvine Unified School District’s ongoing effort to prevent and limit the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and facilities, the District in partnership with LivingFit Nation Corporate Wellness will offer, at no cost to participants, COVID-19 testing for students and IUSD employees and their dependents. Posted by Mandy Yang | September 27, 2020. A: As stated above, IUSD follows the guidelines established by the California Department of Public Health, the OC Health Care Agency, and OC Department of Education, which inform all IUSD planning efforts and the design of each proposed academic model for the 2020-21 school year. The Tustin, Irvine and Los Alamitos unified school districts and the Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach City and Cypress school districts are among … Although teachers will definitely get better at working with live and digital students at the same time, it’s not worth the hassle, danger, and confusion that we’ve faced already. Our District asks for input from families through the survey process so that as we plan and prepare in accordance with the guidelines for OC schools we have a better understanding of our community’s needs. As we returned to school, it became difficult to keep both students at school, who weren’t on Zoom, and his “Zoomers” engaged simultaneously. All Rights Reserved. Staff also developed an FAQ online submission form to receive questions and hear concerns from our community. Irvine Unified School District schools have transitioned to hybrid learning. Beyond the technology issues that occurred, it also became apparent that teachers had to face an increasing workload, which placed undue stress on them. Through an interest-based process, the task force has provided important input from a broad range of perspectives to help meet the diverse needs of our more than 36,000 students and their families. In order for schools to return to in-person instruction, daily case counts in Orange County must meet the following state criteria for 14 consecutive days*. Click here to read more about the new California Department of Public Health guidelines. These guidelines were developed specifically for schools, which as stated by these agencies, have unique considerations that vary from businesses, retail establishments and retail customers. Opposition to reopening schools has also popped up in Irvine Unified School District and Saddleback Valley Unified School District with fears that a rush to … For example, when my teacher sought to encourage us to discuss during class, it was difficult because the teacher’s webcam mic was very weak and could not pick up discussion across the room, nor could we unmute ourselves on the Chromebooks because feedback made it hard to hear and understand. IRVINE, Calif.—As schools begin to slowly reopen throughout Orange County, concerned parents and county school board members are calling for … There are dedicated guidelines for California schools and more specifically dedicated guidelines for Orange County schools from the California Department of Public Health, the Orange County Health Care Agency and the Orange County Department of Education. Some of my teachers had trouble teaching both — when we were all at home, he could just use the Zoom whiteboard option. All students will now be on the traditional school calendar, with schools currently slated to open on August 20th. IUSD is closely monitoring the COVID-19 health crisis and created this resource page to keep our community informed and connected. But the halls of TVT Community Day School will soon be filled – … IUSD will continue to closely monitor the conditions in our county and provide updates to our community as they are available. he California Department of Public Health announced this week that the state’s data system has experienced technical issues and are in the process of recalculating this information. Our community is what puts the US in IUSD and we appreciate your ongoing partnership and engagement. Parents have organized to press the Huntington Beach City School District to reopen schools for optimum education and socialization, while recently letters and petitions have circled in … A: On July 17, Governor Newsom announced that schools in counties on the state’s monitoring list for rising coronavirus infections will be required to close for in-person instruction until they meet strict criteria to reopen. However, living in this ever-changing environment means that our planning is also ever-changing and evolving. But even with the positive trends, the earliest Orange County's schools can reopen for personal instruction is Sept. 22. I was stressed. Last Thursday, Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) opened up its fall term, with teachers, parents and students signing a petition protesting the unsafe reopening. Zhengzheng Wang started this petition to IRVINE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Terry Walker and 1 other. For more information about these guidelines, click here. Teachers at Irvine Unified are circulating a petition that has gained more than 2,000 signatures from teachers, parents, staff and students, urging the district to … The effect would be to start reopening schools for at least the most struggling or perhaps the youngest students when their counties move from the most restrictive purple tier, where 99% of school districts are now, to any less restrictive color: red, orange or yellow. Protesters rally for schools to be reopened for full, in-person instruction outside Beckman High School in Irvine on Sept. 8, 2020. The same holds true for Orange County School Districts and for IUSD schools and facilities, which have different features and varying needs. So far, the return to the “new normal” has not been a great experience. Unlike, say, the Irvine Unified School District, L.A. Unified encompasses many neighborhoods with COVID-19 rates high enough to threaten reopening efforts. Irvine Schools Reopen Posted by Mandy Yang | Irvine Unified School District schools have transitioned to hybrid learning. Guidelines for schools at the federal, state and local levels are continually evolving, which is beyond IUSD’s control. In order to avoid the hassle of students in two locations, my physics teacher prerecorded a lecture for us to watch while she taught her live students…live. OC Teen With Irvine Roots Making a Splash in German Professional Soccer League, Political “Bait-and-Switch” Alive and Well in Irvine, IUSD Schools Will Start the Fall Semester Online. There were many issues with Zoom during the first day — some of my friends were booted from Zoom calls or calls would crash mysteriously. The amount of actual teaching time has drastically decreased. Dr. Diana Greene shared some early insights into the district’s plan to reopen schools on Aug. 10 during the Board workshop Tuesday. IUSD to Offer No Cost COVID Testing for Students, Staff and Dependents . 5 Reopening Secrets from Irvine USD, CA August 28, 2020 Irvine Unified School District's Assistant Superintendent of Education Services, Cassie Parham, and Chief Technology Officer, Brianne Ford, recently spoke about their reopening plan and how PAPER fits … A crowd of about 50 parents, students and advocates rallied outside Beckman High School in Irvine on Tuesday, Sept. 8, for the swift reopening of schools for an array of … Indeed, the Irvine Unified School District has already told the board, essentially, to jump in the lake. Confirmed or probable cases below 100 per 100,000 residents, Positive COVID-19 test rate below 8 percent. The guidelines established by the California Department of Public Health, the OC Health Care Agency, and OC Department of Education inform all IUSD planning efforts and the design of each proposed academic model for the 2020-21 school year. Los Alamitos Unified School district officials will reopen its two middle schools. When it Comes to Vaccines, We Need Bold Leadership! However, within the guidelines is flexibility, which enables IUSD to consider and strive to meet the unique and diverse needs of our more than 36,000 students and their families to the greatest extent possible. The District will continue to monitor this situation and health conditions in our city and county. Tustin Unified School District plans to reopen classrooms for younger students on Sept. 24. The Irvine Unified district, which includes Irvine, Northwood, Portola, University and Woodbridge high schools, had planned to reopen its schools on … For the first time in six months, students finally returned to the halls of the various campuses across Irvine. There seems to be no conceivable way to properly combine the students at home and at school. Irvine Unified Superintendent Terry Walker recently informed the community the district remains committed to offering in-person instruction, citing its … Flexibility will enable each school to meet the unique needs of its facility and community to ensure they can safely welcome back students and staff. The reopening plan gives families what they asked for: Options. They included the Los Alamitos School District's schools as well as 27 Diocese of Orange schools. A statement from the district indicated that parents will receive more information about their neighborhood school reopening from the school’s principal. The first few days were not a particularly positive experience. © 2021 Irvine Unified School District. A: The California Department of Public Health released new guidelines for youth sports on August 3. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG) Even with the emphasis on social distancing, high school students piled around in clusters, facing each other, laughing, talking, and touching. In fact, this FAQ is comprised of questions we have received through our online submission form, in addition to Task Force input, survey feedback, direct communications to the District and Board of Education, and inquiries on social media. Click here to read the full update. A: Yes, IUSD is following guidelines of expert health agencies, as we have done since the onset of the COVID-19 public health crisis. A: In order for schools to return to in-person instruction, daily case counts in Orange County must meet the following state criteria for 14 consecutive days*. ... Garden Grove Unified School District to Phase In Reopening … If you have not already, you will receive more information from your neighborhood/assigned schools, including the IUSD Virtual Academy. Homeowners Demand Action by City Officials Over Concerns of Potential Health Hazards from North Irvine Asphalt Plant. In 2017-18, IUSD had more than 34,000 K-12 students in 23 elementary *The California Department of Public Health announced this week that the state’s data system has experienced technical issues and are in the process of recalculating this information. The City of Irvine should come to the aid of the school community — and our entire Irvine community — by immediately allocating $2.2 million per year for the sole purpose of hiring School Nurses to manage the COVID-19 crisis so our schools can reopen safely … and stay open safely. Important Update: The IUSD Board of Education approved academic models for the 2020-21 school year and voted to require face coverings/masks. IUSD has reached out to our community through two family surveys, asking for feedback about your preferred academic models and to provide us with information about your family’s unique needs. COVID-19 Vaccination Rollout Isn’t Rolling! As Orange County continues to float in the red range, perhaps it is better for IUSD to reconsider the opening of schools. A: Yes, IUSD is following guidelines of expert health agencies, as we have done since the onset of the COVID-19 public health crisis. Should the guidelines change, IUSD will continue to pivot and adapt, while keeping our community informed with timely and accurate information. Irvine Unified School District K-12 enrollment: 35,393 Status: Irvine has announced it plans to reopen to in-person instruction on Sept. 24 and 25 … For the first time in six months, students finally returned to the halls of the various campuses across Irvine. Click here to read more about the new California Department of Public Health guidelines. IUSD continues to closely monitor the situation and guideline changes and we pivot to align our planning and practices. “IUSD is not governed by the O.C. Coaches and schools will provide more information after the start of school. © Irvine Community News & Views (ICNV) Designed by Strategic Communication Consultants, Ed McNew Shows Us All That Volunteering = Purpose in Life = Better Health, Irvine High School Students Start Nonprofit EKrown Art, Connecting Students with Free Art Classes. Two of the Roman Catholic schools remained in distance learning. The Irvine Unified School District (IUSD), which was set to open their year-round schools on July 15th, has canceled those plans. IUSD will resume youth sports once school starts on August 20 and will follow all guidelines, including physical distancing of six feet and no contact conditioning activities only. My teachers sounded stressed. Not only this, but schools are also a breeding ground for potential new COVID cases. IUSD does not make up or determine these guidelines - we follow the established guidelines for all OC schools, provided by the agencies listed above. 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