Featured Columnists

FEATURED COLUMNIST 10 Questions For The PVUSD Superintendent

Q. What’s being done for expectations/ uniformity throughout all schools? (When it comes to social distance learning) My child’s school will request children to keep the camera on while in school. But when I email the board, I am told it isn’t a rule from the district. Are principals allowed to implement their own rules for distance learning aside from our current district plan? Demanding or “highly encouraging” or “rewarding” students for keeping their camera on and ignore Zoom fatigue, anxiety and all other negative aspects of this is dangerous to our children’s well being.

The issue of camera/no camera is indeed connected to student wellbeing. The original intent of the “no camera required” rule was to recognize the challenging learning environment that some students may encounter at home, the technology issue the use of the camera causes for some students, and the psychological impact it has on other students.

At the same time, some of the goals of synchronous learning are to build community, decrease the sense of isolation and provide actionable feedback to students. Many of the goals are enhanced when the students have their cameras on. We have found a higher level of learning from engaged students when they receive consistent feedback, and therefore, we are highly encouraging students to keep their cameras on.

Many teachers and administrators are using positive incentives to encourage students to have their cameras on. No one can require students to have their camera on.

To address this issue, I am holding a focus group with approximately 35 people including students from each secondary school, parents from Migrant Ed, DELAC and SSC, teachers, counselors and administrators on Friday, Oct. 16 to come up with additional recommendations and solutions. By Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Superintendent, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

Q. Why is my student’s teacher telling them that they HAVE to have their cameras on or they will lose participation points?

We should not be requiring students to use their cameras and they should not be losing points or receiving lower grades due to not using their cameras. As noted in the previous question, we are encouraging students to have their cameras on so that we can provide a higher level of instructional and behavioral feedback. Please contact your child’s teacher first and then the site administrator if necessary.

Q. What are the locations of your Safe Spaces? How can I get my child to attend a Safe Space?

PVUSD Safe Spaces are located at Aptos Junior, Radcliff, Mar Vista, Pajaro Middle and Watsonville High. Safe Spaces exist to provide a supportive and supervised environment for high need students who need specialized intervention and support. Referrals are made only through the Site Wellness Team.

If you feel that your child could benefit from attending a Safe Space, please contact your site administrator. The Site Wellness Team will decide if this is the appropriate action to be taken or if other interventions should be tried prior to attending a Safe Space.

If it is the best option, the Site Wellness Team will refer the student to the District Wellness Team. Once the District Wellness Team receives the referral, they will work with the family to place the student in a Safe Space.

Q. How do I apply for low-cost internet through Cruzio through Equal Access Santa Cruz County?

You may apply to low-cost internet through Cruzio, you can apply through the links below, one in Spanish and one in English. cruzio.com/services/broadband/ easc-suf-espanol/ or cruzio.com/services/ broadband/easc-suf/.

To submit the form you will need the Signup Code, which is EASC2020SCHOOLS, otherwise you will receive an error code before submitting the form.

Q. What training has been provided to administrators regarding materials distribution? Our site’s materials distribution is chaotic and nothing is being kept track of for teachers regarding which students receive what ... some students get some supplies, others don’t. Our site administration has said that it is the principal and AC and only a couple of volunteers passing out. Where are the classified staff that is supposed to be funded by our ASP funds? This is a huge debacle for families, students, teachers and admin that needs to be ironed out.

All Elementary Site Administrators have been provided training in following PVUSD Health Safety protocols pertaining to COVID-19 before the distribution of instructional materials and supplies. As part of this training, they have been provided appropriate personal protective equipment, signage to help ensure physical distancing is maintained during distribution events, along with staggering grade level pickup times.

A variety of school staff assist in the various distribution events. In addition, we have also highlighted best practices as an administration team as well as individually supporting sites from our district office level, as well from other district departments. All Secondary Administrators have also been trained in the Health and Safety precautions of COVID-19 prior to distribution events this year.

In addition, sites break down distribution events through several formats to ensure physical distancing and protocols are followed. This can include grade-level time span assignments, multiple day distribution, and specific course materials pick up by subject area. Classified and certificated personnel on campuses plan and execute the distribution events within the safety precautions.

In past years, afterschool programs were staffed by a combination of Certificated and Classified staff who were also regular day employees. Now during Distance Learning, these staff are providing student support online during the school day.

There were a few afterschool staff who were not district employees as well. We are hoping to recruit any available nondistrict staff over the next few weeks to provide targeted student support.

This fall is quite different from last spring, since most instruction is taking place through digital platforms such as Google Meets, Google Classroom, and Seesaw instead of instructional learning packets as in the spring.

Please do not hesitate to contact the appropriate Assistant Superintendent, so they are able to work with the school site

administration directly to support the safe distribution of materials on that campus.

Q. Could you review the expectations regarding COVID safety precautions for staff working at school sites? Specifically, what are the expectations regarding staff wearing masks in shared indoor spaces? At my site, office staff are not wearing masks while they are working in the front office and only put them on when other people enter the office. My understanding had been that staff need to wear masks at all times when working in indoor public spaces, and this feels unsafe for me as a staff person entering the main office.

If a staff member is in any room or enclosed area where other people are present, and they are unable to physically distance they need to wear a mask. Except for the following directives included in our local county health order: • If a person is working in any space visited by members of the public, such as a reception area, waiting room, a restroom, or exam room they need to wear a mask. • If a person is working in or walking through any common areas such as hallways, stairways, elevators, and parking facilities they would wear a mask. • If a person is in a private cubicle, but are less than 6 feet from someone walking by or present in your cubicle they need to wear a mask.

When are masks not required?

• If a person is in a private office as long as members of the public do not visit that office.

Further Guidelines

• Lunch should be eaten out of the office with at least 6 feet between people.

Eating outside when the weather permits is a great idea. It is not a good idea to eat with other people in a contained space, in fact the chance of being infected with COVID is higher. • Breaks that are taken with others need to continue with mask wearing protocols and maintaining physical distancing, and not in a small space.

Q. I’m an Instructional Assistant working from home. I now have to use my own ink to print my weekly homework packets to model for the students I work with. I know Certificated are getting a stipend for using their Internet. What about us, who also use our internet, our ink? How about Doc Cams are those available for us? Those would come in handy too.

We recommend that if you need to obtain printed materials to implement lessons, please coordinate with your teacher to pick up a packet or contact site office staff to coordinate use of the printers and/or copiers on site. Additionally, you may utilize the District Office printers in the Special Services department.

We are open daily 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and able to support these types of needs. Discussing your needs with the teacher or case manager you are working with is another option. Please work with site administration to get equipment that you need such as document cameras.

If the document cameras or other equipment you need are not available at your site, then contact the Special Services office and they will work to locate the equipment.

“PVUSD Safety” page 26

The 1970s

ACROSS 30. Foliage vein 1. Muscular contraction 35. In fine fettle 6. D.C. mover and shaker 37. Scoop or skinny 9. “That was close!” 39. Nephew’s sister 13. Blood circulation 40. “Metamorphoses” organ poet 14. FEMA provisions, e.g. 41. *ABBA’s genre 15. Not bob, to a boxer 43. Thailand money 16. Like a whistle? 44. Temporarily ban 17. UN labor org. 46. Way to fry 18. Speck in the ocean 47. Jamie Fraser of 19. *Fallen South “Outlander”

Vietnamese capital 48. *”The Gods 21. *War movie and Themselves” author

Oscar-winner 50. Romanov ruler 23. Once around 52. Give it a go 24. Hippocrates’ promise 53. It prevents objectivity 25. Ribonucleic acid 55. Brewed beverage 28. Bakery unit 57. *First U.S. space station 60. *Mr. Jefferson 63. Nest for an eagle 64. Between Fla. 9. Boll weevil, e.g. and Miss. 10. Saintly sign 66. Cold cream brand 11. Like never-losing 68. Does like some coffee Steven makers 12. Kind of nurse 69. Tasseled hat 15. Not outside 70. Not snail mail 20. Egg-shaped 71. Back talk 22. Cash dispenser 72. *Nicklaus’ peg 24. Compensating 73. Smartly dressed equivalents 25. *”The Mary Tyler

DOWN Moore Show” spin-off 1. Anatomical pouch 26. Center of a church, pl. 2. Plural of #6 Across 27. Defendant’s excuse 3. ____ 51, Nevada 29. Black tropical cuckoo 4. *”____way to Heaven” 31. “I call first ____!” 5. Feed beet 32. Undergo a chemical 6. Some have a high reaction tolerance for it 33. Blood of the Greek 7. *1973 ____ crisis gods 8. *Oliver Sacks’ 34. *First Lady, familiarly

“Awakenings” drug 36. Dutch export

38. South American wood sorrels 42. Talk like Demosthenes 45. Paso ____, CA 49. By means of 51. Go back into business 54. Behind a stern 56. Pleasant odor 57. Serum, pl. 58. *Cheryl Ladd on

“Charlie’s Angels” 59. Golfer’s dread 60. Fixed look 61. Flying biter 62. Blue pencil mark 63. Internet pop-ups 65. *”Enter the Dragon” star 67. *”Rocky” star’s nickname

Mercury, the planet that clarifies thinking, observing, deciding and making intelligent choices, etc. turned retrograde on Tuesday (Oct. 13) in Scorpio (sign of the Nine Tests & the call to Discipleship).

And as if providence will step in with direct instructions for humanity, Mercury will actually turn stationary direct on election day (Nov. 3), in Libra (sign of making a life-changing choice, of Right Relations and the Rule of Law).

Mercury retrograde is like Virgo. It offers us inner direction. When we turn inward we are able to clearly assess what our tasks are and bring order and organization to our choices. We are able to perceive how to act with intentions of Goodwill and how to choose more clearly harmony and balance.

Mercury retrograde informs us what and why things aren’t what they seem. During this Mercury retrograde humanity is to assess who we will be voting for? And why?

Mercury itself rules contracts and agreements. Although we are advised to NOT make important final decisions or sign anything during Mercury retrograde, during this Mercury retrograde we are forced to

ARIES

resource, marriage, an intimacy. Review this loss and turn it around. Make it a gift, a power received, you. You learn new things about yourself. A new

TAURUS

You will ponder upon new, very different, more with curiosity and penetrating quessterling truths about yourself without fear. Then you •••

make one of the most important decisions of our lifetimes and that of our country. Who will be President of the United States of American and the world leader? Mercury retro gives us the opportunity for reflective contemplative thinking, reorganizing our thoughts, redoing and reassessing. We don’t suspend our lives nor do we (mis) use the Mercury retrograde to excuse behaviors. Instead, we adapt to turning inward, and live intelligently with the knowledge of a retrograde’s purpose.

It is a gift to us. Retrogrades signal that we are to gather and review all past information, and allow the data to be either eliminated or integrated for their usefulness.

Let us, during this Mercury retro in Scorpio (returning to Libra) invoke the truth of what matters. May we be inspired with Right Choice, seeing the essential meaning behind freedom, liberty, voting and the elections. May we choose the candidate who stands under and for the Will-to-Good for all of humanity. We are the ones who will choose.

It’s possible you will review something from the past that was a deep loss — a person, something of great value to you. Review your desires and aspirations. Do you know the difference? Ask everyone around what they value in identity comes forth.

inclusive ways of communicating. You will realize that you must listen now tions (instead of solving problems) when others speak. With deep listening great insights occur for both listener and speaker. Search for ways to have more trust. Then you can reveal the can love more, too.

LEO

You may see family and friends from the past, perhaps from childhood. Family may seek to include you in celebrations, attempting to relive their past — a past you have set aside. You remember younger years, when you were free and wandering, when the light you lived under came only from the sky, sun and stars. You sense impressions from the past seeking new interpretations. Plant blue and violet morning glories inside and out.

VIRGO

Over and over the same thoughts and ideas travel through your mind. You want to discover all aspects of a puzzle, attempting to put it together. Thoughts and dreams and clouds of information appear, but you are unable to decipher many of them. In this unusual silence, your eyes see more than ever before. It’s as if your senses shifted. As one sings, the other doesn’t. Seek to understand everyone’s truths. Let them stand equally with your truths. Everything flowers.

SAGITTARIUS

Sorrows and sadness from the past seek a new state of gladness to replace them. All thoughts begin to be clothed in compassion. There’s no longer the question of why. There’s only the feeling of goodness, that life’s precious and paradox is acceptable. You will walk through a door in the next several weeks. You will open that door and then shut it behind you. You will see a mountain with ascending light. You glimpse your life ahead. It’s important to have good shoes for the journey.

CAPRICORN

During this retrograde time, be very aware of new insights, revelations and new understandings appearing quietly and subtly at the most unexpected time. All previous experiences, especially sadness, coalesce into new states of knowledge. An old friend makes contact; strange twists and turns of relationships begin to ease. Defeat becomes triumph. Speak your mind with truth at all times. Allow others to adapt to you. Frustration turns to opportunity. The voice of the artist calls to you.

GEMINI LIBRA AQUARIUS

Care for and nurture your health in all ways, from When you look around your home, living, working You don’t allow any glamorous nonsense to be in your morning till night. Make this your pri- and garden environments, you realize life and environments. You only want ority. Begin with morning exercise before you’ve come to love, appreciate and practical and ease to travel. Everything eating. Move onto fresh juices (celery, value all different sorts of realities. seems to be changing every moment. cucumber, apple), green smoothies They each offer a specific calmness and This sense of change will continue. You (almond milk, kale, lemon, parsley, apple, pear, barley orderliness that you need. They soothe your spirit will seek stability wherever you find it. New revelations grass). Make cilantro pesto. Eat an avocado a day. and provide your life with daily context. They relieve occur. New thinking. Use all of these in your work and Something, both dissolving and refining, occurs with anxiety. You realize you’ve had this all along, since present them to the world. Allow others to respond and your health. Seek to understand a partner’s sorrows. birth. The change has occurred within. Have gratitude exteriorize whatever is in them. You know your path. It’s Listen & observe. Maintain quiet. for the past. It built your present. always the surprising unusual view. Community calls. You are a server, serving those in need.

CANCER SCORPIO

You will consider what in the past brought you joy, what Over the next several weeks and a bit beyond you PISCES helped you be creative, and what allowed assess your self-image. Not what others Up till now you’ve had a firm grasp of what you want in you to feel enthusiasm. You will see how think of you but what you think of your future. This will change in the coming you’ve become more than you thought yourself. And then you begin to create a months. You will accept where you are and possible. Non-verbal ways of expressing new image. No longer an outer persona, the situations and environments you are yourself are more appropriate now. Spend most time in but one more in depth to be presented to the world. in. An old dilemma becomes a great Truth. gardens, museums, places filled with art, creativity and You no longer need to veil, arm or protect a self that’s A philosophy is differently interpreted and you cherish it beauty. Explore forests, wild areas where the devas live. no longer real. You are more and more authentic. like a golden apple, a golden coin. Old friends drop away Nature is the most balanced of kingdoms. Your natural There’s nothing to lose, nothing to gain. You’re the seeking a different path. Your work expands. You build self comes forth. Buddha on the road. within the crystal square. Standing in the diamond light. What a profound and sacred task we have been given! Risa D’Angeles • www.nightlightnews.org • risagoodwill@gmail.com

Q. What steps are being taken to keep racist, misogynistic, transphobic and overall harmful teachers accountable? How can community be made aware they are being heard without violating HR laws. What are the consequences for such poor behavior? I have seen it in multiple teachers and when students speak up, nothing is done.

The District has a strong commitment to equity and inclusion in education and zero tolerance for this type of behavior. We have board policies prohibiting discrimination, harassment and bullying based on any protected trait, such as race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

Our policies prohibit any employee from acting in a manner that is racist, misogynistic or transphobic while performing their duties for the District.

If anyone is aware of the violation of these policies while performing their duties for the District, I encourage them to file a complaint with the District, using our UCP process. pps-pajaroca.schoolloop. com/ucp

We investigate all uniform complaints against employees. The consequences will be based on the outcome of the investigation and the severity of the policy violation,

Q. Can you put back Google Hangouts, please? I have awesome memories on it.

In order to abide by the Child Internet Protection Act, and student data privacy laws, school districts cannot provide accounts in communication systems to be used for non-academic purposes. PVUSD must do everything possible to make sure that students are using district provided resources appropriately (for academic purposes) and in a safe manner.

Currently Google does not provide a way for district and school administration to monitor Google Chat in order to ensure that it is being used appropriately by students. PVUSD is in the process of evaluating other instant communication systems such a Remind App that may be implemented for academic purposes with the needed oversight built in.

Q. My child is depressed with all of this that is going on and only wants to cry. He says he feels depressed and I cannot explain how he feels makes me worried. Do you have some resources to help students who are suffering the same as my child?

Yes. We have several supports in place for students including our own social emotional counselors (contact your site administrator to connect with a counselor) and our community partner, PVPSA. Links to all of the community resources can be found at the following webpage: www. pvusd.net/p/resources.

Please do not hesitate to reach out for assistance for your child or to recommend that others do. n