Drop-off Times, Expanded Learning, Aptos High WiFi & Free Lunch

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Drop-off Times, Expanded Learning, Aptos High WiFi & Free Lunch

Q&A With Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

I would like to know if elementary schools will push back school start times so that they begin after 8/8:30am like the California law that just passed to move back school start times? Instead, we went forward.

Changes to start times were made to meet the requirements of Senate Bill 328, which requires the school day for middle schools and high schools to begin no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., respectively, by July 1, 2022.

To minimize disruption to the PVUSD community and maintain bus transportation to over 6,000 students daily, most elementary schools were able to maintain their start times within 15 minutes of the prior year’s start time.

Now that school for my high schooler starts earlier, what time can I drop my son off in the morning at school?

Depending on the school site, you can drop your student off 30-60 minutes before school officially begins.

If students show up before drop off time, the school will place students in a location for studying until the campus officially opens.

We never had an after-school program at Bradley Elementary.

Is there a program at every elementary school? Is it free for all parents?

With the implementation of the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program, PVUSD is required to expand its former afterschool program to transitional kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade and to serve up to 50% of vulnerable student populations (i.e. English learners, students living in poverty, foster youth, students with special needs).

However, PVUSD believes that all students deserve both access and opportunity to attend the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program, up to staff capacity, regardless of their family’s resource level or the student’s individual needs.

Therefore, the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program is at all school sites with TK-6th grades and free for all parents, within site capacity levels.

Why are you requiring students in the after school program to stay until 6pm? That is too late.

As a support to families, the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program is available until 6pm, however, children are not required to stay until 6pm.

Parents may pick up their child at the time that best fits the family’s needs.

When should I expect to receive my child’s bus pass?

Bus passes are being made each day in the Transportation Department and are being mailed out to sites on a weekly basis each Wednesday.

Every Wednesday, each site will receive a new batch of bus passes for students to pick up at the office of the school they attend.

All bus passes should be ready by Wednesday, Sept. 14. Please have your student check with the office to pick up their bus passes.

What additional courses will be added to fulfill the high school ethnic studies requirement? Currently, the only options are to take a yearlong English or World History course to fulfill a one-semester requirement. Are students in accelerated/AP courses supposed to take a second English/History course on top of an already heavy course load?

As we build our Ethnic Studies courses at all comprehensive high schools, we are adding the Ethnic Studies lens onto current courses. Our plan for the 2023-24 school year is to add a US History Ethnic Studies and an Ethnic Literature and Studies 3 to the course catalog.

Currently in our course catalog we have Ethnic Literature and Studies 1, Ethnic Literature and Studies 2, Art Ethnic Studies, and World History Ethnic Studies. Over the four years of high school, students have the option to replace one of the high school requirements with an Ethnic Studies option.

For example, students can take Art Ethnic Studies to fulfill their Art and Ethnic Studies requirements. We continue to explore additional Ethnic Studies courses.

I am hoping to hear from the district and from Aptos High School an update on the infrastructure updates to the

WiFi, security cameras, campus update necessary since last years’ sad incident. How much progress and transparency will you be able to share as our children head back to school? Thank you.

Technology Services completed the installation of additional outdoor wireless infrastructure across the Aptos High campus in order to improve wireless connectivity in quads, walkways, fields and other outdoor spaces.

This will allow for improved digital communication and Wi-Fi calling across the Aptos High School campus. PVUSD is in communication with the major cellular carriers in order to investigate options to deploy cellular infrastructure that would provide better cell coverage at Aptos High.

Although the design, application, environmental impact evaluation, and permit process may take a long time for these types of installations, there is one project through AT&T that has already begun. This project was approved by the Santa Cruz County Zoning Administrator on April 1.

Although it will take some time for this project to go through all of the approval processes before it can be installed, we are hopeful that it will progress and eventually be completed.

The installation of the Avigilon Security and Analytics (security camera) System at Aptos High is now complete. As part of the installation at Aptos High, 27 new camera views were added in critical areas across the campus.

The Avigilon system’s artificial intelligence and advanced analytics contain many advanced features that will improve security at Aptos High school greatly such as: • Advanced Search Capabilities • Object detection and classification • Identify patterns, hotspots, and unusual motion/activities • Automated Notifications when unusual activities detected • Facial and license plate recognition • IR and Low light technologies • Cloud Connected for anywhere anytime access • AI detection and flag events that require attention • High-speed video extraction

Are staff still required to test for

COVID-19 if they are not vaccinated?

What happens if they refuse to test?

According to the CDPH, State Public Health Order, dated 8/11/2021, asymptomatic unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated workers are required to undergo diagnostic screening testing at least once a week, with either an antigen or PCR tests to satisfy this requirement.

If a staff member refuses to test, the following will occur; 1st refusal or missed test — reminder from supervisor; 2nd refusal or missed test — Human Resources will send a reminder letter to the staff member; 3rd or more refusal or missed test — staff member will be removed from their assignment, unpaid, until they test.

In addition, for employees who continue to refuse or miss tests, progressive discipline will be applied.

Will COVID testing continue at the

District Office and at the school sites?

PVUSD will continue to partner with Inspire Diagnostics to provide COVID-19 testing at no charge to PVUSD students and staff for the 22-23 school year.

Testing is available at all PVUSD school sites two days per week for students and staff members. Schools will have testing available on either a Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday testing schedule Please check with your school for specific days & times.

COVID-19 testing for symptomatic students and staff is also available at the Pajaro Valley District Office (294 Green Valley Rd) Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM. The District Office location has PCR (lab) & on-site antigen (rapid) testing available at no cost to PVUSD students and staff.

For the most up to date testing locations and times throughout Santa Cruz County, please visit: https://covid19test. santacruzcoe.org/

To register with Inspire Diagnostics to test, please visit: https://inspirediagnostics. com/santa-cruz-county-office-of-education/

Vaccinations and boosters are also available through Inspire Diagnostics, for more information visit: https://santacruzcoe. org/vaccines/

Now that there are free lunches,

I am trying to convince my daughter to take advantage of it. Where can I find the daily lunch menu?

Due to the California Universal Meals Program, this year, all PVUSD students are eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch every school day.

Elementary menus are shared with elementary sites and are posted on their web page. Families can access menus via pvusdschoolfood.net.

Families can also sign up to have menus emailed monthly on the first of the month on the “Going Green” section of pvusdschoolfood.net. n