LASD Board Highlights

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If you missed the August 30 meeting, you can view the video here.

Superintendent Baier provided an update to the Board on our schools and our COVID safe protocols.

LASD COVID Tracker

Just like last year, the COVID case tracker is available on the LASD website here. We know that as COVID is in our community, there will be identified cases in our classrooms. By strictly adhering to all state and local guidelines, just as we did last year, we will continue to stop the spread of illness in our schools.

In-Person Learning Up and Running

The first days of school have been a great success as we have resumed many important school-site functions under the new public health guidelines, including hot lunch, after school programs, events and junior high sports. Community building has been a primary focus of the first weeks of school, as many students were in Virtual School last year. Our teachers and principals have resumed important activities and events to build back the connections that are most important for our families and students. We're thrilled to feel a new sense of normalcy as all of these activities resume with the important public health precautions to keep our students, staff and community safe.

New: Pooled Testing

Students at all grade levels may participate in a voluntary pooled testing program for all LASD schools. We partnered with Concentric last year in a pooled testing pilot program for our 6th-8th grade students. This early detection program provided a greater sense of security for our entire school community.

Pooled testing works like this. Participating students will self-administer their weekly pool test at school using a short nasal swab. The samples will be collected together and tested as a group, so no individual test results will be provided to families.

If there is a positive case identified in the pool, Concentric will administer individual antigen tests to impacted students and staff. Please note: only students who have a completed Concentric consent form on file for the pooled testing program will be able to be tested on our campuses when a positive case is identified from the pooled testing program, which is one reason we urge you to complete the consent form for your child at this time.

You can consent to your student's participation in the program at any time during the school year, but we encourage you to do so by September 9 so that your student can participate in the program on the first day it is available. The exact start date is to be determined, but the program will begin in September.

You should have received an email from Superintendent Baier to sign your student up for the pooled testing program at your site. Your school Principal will also send this information in their weekly newsletter. If you need more information, please email Superintendent@lasdschools.org.

For more information, check out item H.1. on our Gamut online agenda.

Our principals have received many questions from families regarding our Los Altos School District school site-based COVID-19 testing program and the new quarantine requirements from the California Department of Public Health.

Please join our LASD District Nurses, Monica Sidher and Mary Fitzgerald, and Superintendent Jeffrey Baier for a Town Hall where we will provide information and answer your questions on these two important topics.

What: Pool Testing Town Hall

When: Wednesday, September 8, 7:00pm

Where: Zoom, please register here.

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Sandra McGonagle, provided a Summer Update, which included the announcement of new staff positions to support students: Academic School Counselors for the junior high schools, Reading Interventionists to support student literacy and a Family Engagement Facilitator to ensure all families and students have access to the support they need.

Our teachers model what it means to be a lifelong learner to our students by engaging in regular professional development to refine their craft, learn new skills and collaborate to ensure all students succeed. This summer, they participated in important professional development on early literacy development and reading intervention to support struggling students. They also did a deep dive into our new mathematics curriculum, learning to not only support struggling students but to stretch those who are excelling in math.

Mrs. McGonagle highlighted our Multi Tiered System of Supports, which ensures all students are challenged to move to the next level whether they are struggling at grade level or excelling beyond. She also discussed how our teachers collaborate in Professional Learning Communities to share data and best practices to discuss student needs and progress.

For more information, check out item H.2. on our Gamut Online agenda.

The next meeting of the Los Altos School District Board of Trustees will take place on Monday, September 13 at 7:00pm via Zoom. To attend the meeting please visit our Board web page and register for the meeting using the provided link. The link will be posted on Thursday at 5:00pm the week prior to each meeting.

If you would like to stay updated regarding upcoming Board meetings, please email mbirnie@lasdschools.org, providing your name, email address and a request to be added to the email list for Brown Act updates, including upcoming meetings and agendas.

Website: www.lasdschools.org
Location: 201 Covington Road
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LASDK8/