In March 2020, AUSD suspended in-class instruction due to the rapid spread of COVID-19. The suspension was extended twice - first to the end of April and then to the close of school.
At its May 18 public meeting, the Board of Education approved staff's recommendation that the 2019-20 school year end on May 29 rather than the previously scheduled June 8. This decision was made because the ongoing pandemic had made it clear that AUSD may need to offer at least some of its instruction remotely in the 2020-21 school year. As such, our union partners and district staff agreed that it would be more effective to convert some of the distance learning days at the end of 2019-20 into professional development days to prepare for next year and the possibility of needing to do at least some remote learning next year.
That same month AUSD convened a Redesign Task Force to explore, develop, and implement an instructional program for next year that balanced the goals of supporting our students’ academic, social, and emotional needs with providing as safe an environment as we can. That Task Force surveyed families, consulted with other committees and stakeholders in the district, and ultimately make a recommendation to the Board of Education about providing two instructional programs next year. The Board approved that recommendation at its June 23 public meeting.
Tonight, Superintendent Pasquale Scuderi will give the Board and the Community an update on plans for a possible re-opening of our schools as the district currently reassesses conditional re-opening dates.
This update will be a recurring agenda item as plans are updated and revised.