PUSD Cancels Large Group Events, Updates School Community on Current Status

Hours after Pasadena Now reported that a graduate student at Caltech was being tested for the coronavirus, Pasadena Unified School District Superintendent Brian McDonald announced to staff the district is canceling events.

Schools will remain open for now.

“Effective Tuesday, March 10 through April 10, PUSD is postponing or canceling all public events that bring large groups of students, adults, and community members together,” wrote Superintendent McDonald. “Canceled or postponed events may be conducted online. Child care and extended day learning programs are still running to support working parents. This decision was made out of concern for the health of our community as a social distancing measure in light of COVID-19. We will assess and reevaluate extending this decision early in the week of April 6.”

It is not known if this includes school board meetings. Canceled events include all school assemblies and performances, No Boundaries 15 which was scheduled for ArtNight, Pasadena LEARNS Cheer competition (March 14), Math Field Day (scheduled March 20), All District and school level parent/community advisory committee meetings, including PTA events. All open house events through April 10. These may move to an online sharing of student work PUSD’s staff Professional Development will continue on March 20 with the format to be developed

SAT testing scheduled this weekend will proceed with precautions and social distancing.

Effective immediately, the district is also limiting visitors to PUSD schools, including volunteers. We look forward to welcoming our dedicated volunteers back to our campus later this spring.

Schools are being told to stagger recess and lunch times to limit the number of students who are together.

Athletics will continue to be evaluated in consultation with CIF.

We will have a determination soon.

“According to the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD), because the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recently broadened the criteria for testing for COVID-19, more and more individuals will be recommended by their physicians to be tested. When people are being tested, this does not mean they have the COVID-19 infection, therefore, there is no need for alarm. If there are people who are confirmed to have COVID-19, this will be communicated quickly.

The changes comply with Scenario II of the state's guidelines, which applies to schools where they have been two cases community transmission of the virus. There have been two confirmed cases in LA County that cannot be traced back to a source.

“There are no confirmed cases in PUSD at this time. Even though this case at CalTech has yet to be confirmed, we want to advise you that we are working closely with our Board of Education President and PPHD to take the needed actions to help protect our school community if a COVID-19 case is diagnosed. Our first priority is the health and safety of PUSD students, faculty, staff, and community members, including those who may have a greater risk of complications from COVID-19. We will take all precautions recommended by PPHD, L.A. County Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control to prevent or contain the disease from spreading at our schools," McDonald wrote.