Superintendent's Message on Reopening SSFUSD: 2-3-21

Dear SSFUSD Community,

I hope each of you are staying safe and doing well. In an effort to keep you well-informed and updated on our ongoing progress with our students, I wanted to take the opportunity to share the latest updates.

On December 10, our school board decided that SSFUSD will remain in distance learning until San Mateo County’s COVID-19 case rates return to the “moderate” or “orange tier” of the state’s color-coded tracking system. In the meantime, SSFUSD has been focused on expanding learning hubs to assist students who may be struggling with distance learning. 

SSFUSD partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of North San Mateo County and the City of South San Francisco to implement learning hubs and provide supervision and academic support for student participants. Recently, we opened additional hubs using our own staff to offer additional academic support and supervision for students who are struggling with distance learning. Below is a current list of learning hubs and expanded learning programs offered across our district. We are working closely with site principals to identify and communicate with students who may benefit from attending a learning hub. Site principals look at various criteria to determine student eligibility.

We are in the process of opening a learning hub at South San Francisco High School and a few other sites later this month.

Once San Mateo County has returned to the “orange tier” for two weeks, our district will invite small cohorts of students with high-level needs back to campus. Next, we will gradually invite back students whose parents/guardians indicated a preference for hybrid learning. This revised plan allows for students to keep their current teacher at the elementary level and ensures the same amount of synchronous instructional time with additional in-person support for small cohorts after live synchronous instruction.

At this time, no decision has been made about whether SSFUSD will remain in distance learning for the remainder of the year. While we understand how difficult it is not to have a final decision for your planning purposes, we cannot make a decision at this time due to many unknown factors. We will continue to keep you updated as decisions are made.
Additionally, on January 28, 2021, the SSFUSD Board of Trustees approved a recommendation to follow guidelines from the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to allow athletic participation with modified seasons and schedules for the 2021 spring semester. SSFUSD will follow the CIF/CDPH recommendations regarding athletic conditioning/practicing and competitions based on the CIF/CDPH colored tiered model. Parents of athletes will receive additional information from their student athlete’s coach in the near future.

Lastly, I wanted to inform you that we have not received any definitive information about when educators will be vaccinated. I am attending several meetings where this is being discussed, and I am also participating on a committee of county superintendents to help encourage the prioritization of educators!

Thank you for being such great partners to SSFUSD. We recognize that any success we are experiencing would not be possible without your support, perseverance, and assistance. 
In gratitude,
Dr. Shawnterra Moore 
Superintendent
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Estimada comunidad de SSFUSD,

Espero que ustedes están seguros y bien. Para informarle sobre el progreso de nuestros estudiantes, quería aprovechar la oportunidad para compartir las noticias más recientes.

El 10 de diciembre, nuestro consejo escolar decidió que SSFUSD permanecerá en el aprendizaje a distancia hasta que los casos de COVID-19 en el Condado de San Mateo vuelvan al nivel "moderado" o "naranja" del sistema del código de colores del estado. Mientras tanto, SSFUSD se ha enfocado en expandir centros de aprendizaje para ayudar a los estudiantes que están luchando con el aprendizaje a distancia.

SSFUSD trabajó con los Clubs de Niños y Niñas del Condado Norteño de San Mateo y la Ciudad de South San Francisco para implementar centros de aprendizaje y proveer supervisión y apoyo académico a los participantes. Recientemente, abrimos centros adicionales usando nuestros empleados para ofrecer apoyo académico adicional y supervisión para los estudiantes que están luchando con el aprendizaje a distancia. Abajo es una lista de centros de aprendizaje y programas de aprendizaje ampliado que estámos ofreciendo en nuestro distrito.