Message from the Superintendent
July 17, 2020
Dear Orange Unified Community,
Per Governor Newsom’s announcement this afternoon, all public and private schools in California counties on the state’s COVID-19 monitoring list shall suspend on-campus instruction until monitoring criteria from California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is met to reopen. Previously, local school districts, in consultation with county departments of health, were permitted to determine educational options for students.
Orange Unified remains committed to the safety of our students and staff and providing a high-quality education during these challenging times. In accordance with State guidelines, we will offer a robust distance learning program that includes improved access to devices and connectivity, live daily virtual teaching with students engaged in challenging curriculum and collaborative work with students and adapted and enhanced instruction for English Learners and students with special needs.
According to Governor Newsom’s Pandemic Plan for Learning and Safe Schools, Orange County must meet CDPH criteria before Orange Unified schools can consider resuming on-campus instruction when the 2020-2021 school year begins on August 19. These new guidelines are intended to help decrease the rising COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations in California.
When schools are permitted to open, the CDPH practices for Health and Safety will be followed. Orange Unified staff has spent the past few months preparing to reopen schools following all CDPH, Orange County Health Care Agency, and Cal-OSHA safety guidelines. This preparation will allow us to offer full-time on-campus instruction to interested families as soon as it is safe to do so per the Governor Newsom’s directives. Virtual, in-person, and hybrid options will be offered seamlessly to all students based on current health conditions in Orange County and established by the CDPH.
More information and updates will be shared on the OUSD website and social media as they become available.
Useful Resources:
COVID-19 INDUSTRY GUIDANCE: Schools and SchoolBased Programs
Child Care Information for Essential Workers
We thank you for your ongoing patience and support as we navigate the fluid dynamics created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sincerely,
Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Connect with Us
Email: communications@orangeusd.org
Website: www.orangeusd.org
Location: 1401 North Handy Street, Orange, CA, USA
Phone: 714-628-4000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrangeUnifiedSchoolDistrictCA
Twitter: @orangeunifiedCA
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