South Pasadena Unified School District COVID-19 Update

Dear SPUSD Parents and Guardians,

If you have been following the weekly updates from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH), then you know and understand how often guidelines and recommendations change regarding a return to in-person school. We must continue to follow the State’s “Blueprint for a Safer Economy,” and we need to remain vigilant in our actions and behaviors so that we may move from the most restrictive tier (purple) to the red tier which provides more options for schools and the community.

The most recent information that we received from LADPH informed us about modifications to the application waiver process for students in grades TK-2. Because of these changes, we plan to submit the TK-2 waiver application, which may eventually allow us to bring back small groups of students in these grades, for each of our elementary schools.

Once waiver applications are submitted, the County reviews the applications by school. There is the possibility that one school within a district is approved while another school within the district is approved at a later time subject to the discretion of County health officials. We understand that this process seems cumbersome, but this is the way the County is proceeding at this time. Additionally, the County approves only 30 individual school waivers per week distributed evenly throughout the County Board of Supervisors region, allocating approximately six approvals per week for Supervisor Barger.

The County will also continue to prioritize waiver applications from schools with higher numbers of low-income families. This is not a first received – first accepted process. As you know, SPUSD has a relatively small percentage of students meeting this designation. We also understand that the health department expects a lengthy timeline for reviewing and approving waiver applications. Given this timing estimate and the additional criteria that need to be met, we will remain in Distance Learning through December 18, 2020.

We felt it was important to update you on these developments so that you understand and recognize that we continue to be thoughtful and appropriately responsive. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns and thank you for everything you do for our District and community.

Regards,

Geoff Yantz, Ed.D.
Superintendent