Dear Los Altos School District Families,

I hope this letter finds you and your family safe and healthy.  As we prepare to begin the LASD Spring Break, new announcements from Governor Newsom, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and our local public health officials are sobering reminders of the need to continue physical distancing to protect our community from the novel coronavirus.

Today, Governor Newsom clarified school campuses across the state will not reopen for the remainder of the school year. While this announcement was not unexpected, it is a stark acknowledgement of the severity of the public health crisis our community faces.

In coordination with the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SSCOE) and the thirty-one school districts in our county, Los Altos School District will not reopen its campuses this school year. 

To be clear, the 2019-20 school year is not over.  Rather, it means that all students will continue to attend school via our Virtual School for the remainder of the year.  Please read today’s letter from Santa Clara County Superintendent Dewan and the thirty-one school district superintendents. 

There is no doubt that enduring school closures will be difficult for families, students and staff.  However, I want to reassure you that the Los Altos School District has a plan in place to continue, build upon, and improve the success of our LASD Virtual School for the remainder of the school year. The district will also continue to work with SCCOE, Santa Clara County Public Health Department (SCCPHD) and our neighboring school districts regarding school closures.  There will be numerous details to address as a result of school campus closures through the end of the year. We will continue to collaborate with our community partners to address these details and help ensure we balance the need for all students to access excellent education as we simultaneously protect public health. 

Spring Break 
Our teachers rose to the challenge of a nearly instantaneous launch of online learning in order to ensure our students’ progress continued. Spring Break will provide our teachers the valuable time they need to have the energy and insights to provide an excellent education for your children when LASD Virtual School resumes on Monday, April 13.

To help our families with fun and educational activities for children during Spring Break, we’ve created a catalog of resources.  I hope these ideas provide you and your family with opportunities to have a good time together, exploring your home and backyard in new ways while keeping our community safe and healthy by Sheltering in Place.  

Shelter in Place
Additionally, in coordination with five other Bay Area Counties, SCCPHD announced it is extending the Shelter in Place Order to continue through May 3, 2020.  The extension is designed to prevent a dangerous strain on our local healthcare resources so our hospitals are prepared to effectively battle the novel coronavirus public health crisis.  Read the press release here.

The Shelter in Place extension includes new, stricter social distancing regulations to help prevent the spread of this very communicable and dangerous disease.  Quite simply, by staying home with our families, we will save lives. 

A few highlights of the new order as you prepare for Spring Break:
1.    All travel, except essential travel such as to purchase groceries, is prohibited
2.    Playgrounds, recreational areas and our local schools’ play equipment and buildings are closed to the public
3.    All public or private gatherings involving more than a single household or living unit are prohibited

Mental Health Services for Students 
Anxiety, fear and depression are all emotions that our students could be experiencing during this enduring crisis.  Our school psychologists and counselors are available to help your child work through these difficult emotions.  If your child needs help, please contact your school principal with your concerns.  Additionally, mental health professionals at the Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC) are available to help our students.  They are offering telehealth services that you may access by calling 650.965.2020.  If your child is currently working with a CHAC therapist, please include their name in your voicemail. Please also take a look at the multiple resources CHAC includes on its website, that could help any members of our community suffering from mental health challenges.

Every Family Counts: 2020 Census
If you haven’t yet, please be sure to fill out the 2020 Census for your family.  The census is a count of all people living in the U.S. and takes place every 10 years. It is simple and confidential to complete and will affect everything from political boundaries to county, state, and federal funding.  It is more critical than ever that every household in the district responds accurately, especially since young children are the most likely to be overlooked. For the first time ever you can complete the census online.  More information can be found at https://2020census.gov/.

I hope that you and your family enjoy your time together during Spring Break.  May this time allow you to discover creative ways to connect, explore new interests and have fun in these very unusual and challenging circumstances.  We will continue to work together and in collaboration with our families as we extend our Virtual School to the end of the school year.  We look forward to learning and growing with your child when Virtual School resumes on April 13.

Sincerely, 
Jeffrey Baier
Superintendent
Los Altos School District