"We have weathered the worst of the omicron surge. 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. No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. Once the mandate is lifted, it is incumbent upon local districts to heed the guidance from (the California Department of Public Health) and allow their students to unmask on March 11, said Megan Bacigalupi, executive director of California Parent Power, a statewide parent advocacy group that sprung up during the pandemic. Some people may understandably feel anxious about these changes to masking requirements in the county. 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. 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.. In the meantime, you can go to our website for information about the daily screening process on ParentSquare for your review and reference. 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. Chaotic and dangerous: S.F. 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. 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. When there is a confirmed COVID exposure at school, we will provide a mechanism for students and staff to be tested onsite so as to minimize the amount of time out of the classroom. 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. 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. A first grade music class at Roosevelt Elementary in Burlingame, Calif. Thursday, November 18, 2021. It was not immediately clear what other Bay Area counties planned to do. School mask mandates are quickly falling across the United States as the country emerges from a winter surge fueled by the omicron variant. Please see below for an image of that checklist. Santa Rosa City Schools, the largest district in the county, is keeping its mask mandate for the time being. 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. Its very hard to reason your way through that logic without coming back to teachers unions and fear-based policy.. 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. 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.. North Bay Organizing Projects Immigrant Defense Task Force. 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. 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. Freitas also expressed concern that the states decision could result in backlash against those who still want to wear masks.

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. 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.

Please check out this Districtwide video that was shared at tonights School Board meeting to get a sense of the day:First Day Video in PCS - 2021-22. ParentSquare: District and School Communications. The mask mandate also will be dropped for California child care facilities. shuts down Mission District plaza as it Piedmont saw its official homeless count spike. In addition to announcing the date for lifting the school mandate on Monday, the state also said it would stop requiring unvaccinated individuals to wear masks in public indoor settings a rule thats been in place almost since the start of the pandemic. The contact for these programs is, Air Quality Resources for Fire and Smoke. Neighbors and home buyers Top S.F. 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. 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. UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone. 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. 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. 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. Vaccinations for children under 5 are currently undergoing federal review. Please see below for an image of that checklist. Community members who are vaccinated and choose not to mask should respect the choices of those who continue to mask. Even though California will no longer require masks to be worn in classrooms, masks will be strongly recommended.

Each classroom will exercise ongoing hand hygiene routines throughout the school day. What a great day to be in Petaluma City Schools. 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. California will join Oregon and Washington in lifting the mandate, officials announced Monday. Local public officials who attended the virtual forum expressed sympathy in response to the testimonies shared at the event, but indicated that decisions about mask mandates will be left to the countys school districts. Visitwww.onthemovebayarea.orgto learn more. 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. The Sonoma County Department of Public Health (SCDPH) updated health and safety guidance for the 2021-22 school year on January 2022. 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. 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. Reaching out to school districts will be a time-consuming affair for parents looking to offer their opinion on masking. Subscribe to SoCo Correspondent email newsletter. According to SCDPH, recent evidence indicates that in-person instruction can occur safely without minimum physical distancing requirements when other mitigation strategies (e.g., masking) are implemented. Therefore, physical distancing is not mandated, thus increasing opportunities for important peer interaction. Erin started her journalism career at the Daily Californian student newspaper and many years later still calls Berkeley her home. Developing Effective Communicators & Critical Thinkers, Welcome to the 2021-22 school year! While relaxing indoor masking requirements is part of a population-level shift toward a new normal of living with the disease, the Health Officers recognize that essential workers and communities of color continue to be highly impacted by COVID-19 and will need additional support to limit widening health disparities. 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. The state will continue to provide schools with mitigation resources, testing, and the procurement of masks. Students are. There is no scientific justification for a student in Roseville to be able to unmask while a student in Oakland cannot. Students wear masks as they sit in second period during the first day of in-person learning at Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco, Calif. Thursday, August 19, 2021. Si usted cree que usted ha sido sujeto a discriminacin, acoso, o intimidacin, usted debera contactar inmediatamente al director del plantel y/o Director de Recursos Humanos (CCR Titulo 5 y Oficial de Titulo IX), Andrew Ryan al 707-935-6008 o aryan@sonomaschools.org. CASES BY AGE A chart on Sonoma Countys Covid-19 website shows the number of cases among different age brackets. disinfected and deep cleaning will happen routinely throughout the district. People can continue to choose to wear face coverings around others whether its mandated or not and should respect peoples choices around their health. COVID-19 is still spreading twice as fast in our community today as it was during the peak of the delta surge last August. Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64; rv:91.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/91.0, Ask The Expert: Dr. Hani Jamah Wed. 12:30PM-1PM, Humanity Home & Cabinetry Thurs. 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. 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. Special Board Meeting, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM helps ensure that all students have access to safe and full in-person instruction and to as much instructional time as possible. As evidence continues to show, vaccinations and boosters remain the best defense against the virus. 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. Students will be given outdoor mask breaks throughout the day when it is safe to do so. In between, she spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching English in Cape Verde, West Africa. Parents speaking at the forum voiced concern that many children are still not vaccinated, making outbreaks at school more likely. 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. 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. A statewide coalition of parents said leaving the decision up to local school districts was not in line with science or experts, including the CDC, which as of last week no longer differentiates between schools and other indoor spaces in its mask guidance. California Gov. According SCDPH, the foundational principle of the updated guidance from the State for schools continues to be that, this school year. Northwest Prep is expanding its Home Study program for the 2021-22 school year to serve students K-12. Organizers of the forum includedH-PEACE, theCURA Project, andLatino Service Providers. February 09, 2022. 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. ), 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.. 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. Weve really lost public health justification to have kids masked, said Noble, director of COVID response at UCSF Emergency Department. Erin Allday is a health reporter who writes about infectious diseases, stem cells, neuroscience and consumer health topics like fitness and nutrition. Vaccines have been proven to save lives and reduce transmissions. Judging from a recentPress Democratarticlepolling 18 local school districts, some districts have already decided to drop the mandates as early as next week. Welcome to the 2021-22 school year! His final act: a scorching After making racist statement, S.F. 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. At least six Bay Area counties Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Solano, San Mateo, San Francisco and Sonoma announced Monday that they would adopt the state guidance right away. Inlate February, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state would no longer require schools and child care facilities to require masks. Children and school staff, regardless of vaccination status, will no longer be required to wear masks at school starting Monday, March 14. She's been on the health beat since 2006 (minus a nine-month stint covering Mayor Gavin Newsom). State officials said they will still strongly encourage masks in schools, even once the requirement is lifted. The highly contagious Omicron variant brought on a new stage of the pandemic with a high number of new infections, but significantly fewer cases of life-threatening illnesses, especially for those who are vaccinated and boosted. Per the California Department of Public Healths (CDPH), COVID-19 Public Health Guidance for K-12 Schools in California, 2021-22 School Year. for your review and reference. 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. shuts down Mission District plaza as it confronts drugs and illegal Piedmont saw its homeless count spike. 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. 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. New York City is lifting its school mask mandate on Wednesday. On behalf of Petaluma City Schools, thank you very much for your support with this simple, but important preventative measure. While there are a lot of people very excited about (lifting the mandate), there are also families and people who are worried.. Jana Asenbrennerova / Special to The Chronicle. But the masking update, he acknowledged, will be received with trepidation by many parents and others in school settings. Enlace Zoom para el 21 de junio de 2022: https://sonomaschools-org.zoom.us/j/99926250742. On Friday, February 25, 2022. The state will continue to provide schools with mitigation resources, testing, and the procurement of masks. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Districts may keep masks in place even in counties that dont have local mandates. One of the most effective preventative measures against infection is to keep the virus off the campus in the first place. 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. Vaccination rates vary from county to county, and often by race and ethnicity. CASE LOAD A slide showing the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Sonoma Countys Latino, Indigenous and Black populations. 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. For instance, while Latinx residents make up 23.7% of the countys population, they have suffered 50% of documented Covid cases, 40% of hospitalizations and 31% of deaths, according to county data. Brooke Jenkins fills more key positions. As we move toward easing masking requirements, its important to remember that vaccines remain an important tool in limiting the spread and severity of COVID-19, said Dr. Steven Herrington, Sonoma Countys superintendent of schools. Thats nine more than the 31 districts serving New York City, a metropolis with a population of 8.4 million. She is a frequent guest on KQED's "Newroom" television show and "Forum" radio show. 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. If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, you should immediately contact the school site principal and/or Director of Human Resources (CCR Title 5 and Title IX Officer), Andrew Ryan at 707-935-6008 or aryan@sonomaschools.org. 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. Munis long-delayed Central Subway has had another setback. POUSD HVAC System Filters are at the highest MERV rating that our system can properly operate at without pressure drop concerns. The San Francisco Art Institute is closed. 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. Santa Rosa,CA | Local health departments and school boards will be able to require their own in-school masking policies that are appropriate for their communities. Gavin Newsom visits a second grade classroom at the Carl B. Munck Elementary School, Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, in Oakland. 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.. S.F. 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. Physical distancing will not be required.

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. Members ofMovimiento Cultural de la Union Indigena, Las Luchadoras, Roseland CBI,ALMAS, Mujeres Unidas,La Familia Sana,Sonoma Valley Food For Alland theNorth Bay Organizing Projects Immigrant Defense Task Forcealso participated in the event. Increased custodial services will continue in order to ensure high touch surfaces are. Districts must continue to provide high-quality masks and ensure a safe environment for all staff and students who want or need to continue to wear them. 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. What happens to its $50 Police searching for big rig driver who damaged Berkeley I-80 overpass, San Francisco will not be among the districts. 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. Any decision on masking at the local level should be made with an equity lens so that the health and safety of our hardest-hit communities, and especially our most vulnerable students, are prioritized, Jeff Freitas, president of the California Federation of Teachers, said in a statement on Monday. In the meantime, you can, go to our website for information about the daily screening process on ParentSquare. This new S.F. As needed, indoor dining will occur facilitated by a filtered HVAC system. A Bay Area native, Jill earned a master's degree in journalism at the University of Colorado, Boulder and a bachelor's degree from the UC Santa Barbara.

As we move toward easing masking requirements, its important to remember that vaccines remain an important tool in limiting the spread and severity of COVID-19, said Dr. Steven Herrington, Sonoma Countys superintendent of schools. 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. 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. 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. San Francisco will not be among the districts allowing students to pull off the masks. What a great day to be in Petaluma City Schools. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday @jilltucker. NON-DISCRIMINATION: Petaluma City Schools is committed to providing equal opportunity for all individuals in district programs and activities. The SCOE will work with the countys 40 school districts to explain and ensure compliance with the new masking guidance. California to lift school mask mandate along with Oregon and Washington, California says even unvaccinated now can unmask indoors, COVID in California: Nearly half of free test kits from Washington are unclaimed, Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area. 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. 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. encouraged to bring a labeled water bottle to school daily for refilling. No off-topic remarks. In accordance with Government Code Section 54953.3, members of the public may, SVUSD Board Meetings are live-streamed via. In the absence of a statewide requirement, local school districts may independently decide to keep mask mandates in place. Safe in-person instruction is essential for healthy school communities. Copies of SVUSDs uniform complaint procedures policy (1312.3) and SVUSDs non-discrimination/harassment policy (5145.3) are available upon request. In addition, Northwest Prep is launching an Online Academy that will also serve students K-12. He spent 17 years as a priest in exile. But each institution knows their students and families, and can make a decision that may be more health protective, Philip said. Workplaces will continue to follow theCOVID-19 prevention standardsset by CalOSHA. 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. As weather conditions allow, students will enjoy outdoor dining whenever feasible. 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.