California introduced the Blueprint for a Safer Economy framework in August for loosening and tightening restrictions on activities, such as in-person school. There are four tiers contained in the framework. The two key metrics that determines moving between the tiers are the:

• number of COVID positive cases in the county

• percentage of positive test results for all of those who are tested in the 7-day period of time.

Those same metrics can be found on the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department’s current status webpage. The tier process does not mandate “in-person” or hybrid.  Those are options schools/districts may consider and are often based on how schools can meet the guidelines (e.g., ability to maintain 6-feet distance, facilities preparedness, staffing)

Elementary schools returned to in-person learning on March 1, 2021. The Board of Education authorized secondary schools to return to in-person learning in the Red Tier.

• We believe students  derive the most benefit academically and social-emotionally from being at school in-person.

• Students who chose 100% distance learning may participate in on-campus activities or events as appropriate.

• Secondary students who chose full distance learning (Group C),  will have the option  to participate in co-and-extracurricular programs which take place during the final period of the day and after-school (athletics, clubs, performing arts).

• Yes.

Elementary students who are unable to return to in-person schooling (Group C) will continue in the distance learning model with daily instruction by a District teacher who may not be their current teacher.

The secondary model differs from the elementary model due to subject-specific credentialing requirements and the large number of different courses secondary students need to complete to fulfill a 4-year College/Career Plan.  Students who are unable to return to in-person instruction (Group C) will remain enrolled in their regular courses and participate in those courses remotely.

Students who may have to isolate for 14 days will follow the hybrid at-home (online/distance learning) schedule.

It is possible that if one student in a class needs to quarantine then the whole class would also need to quarantine.

If at any given time the teacher cannot give in-person instruction, the teacher’s class(es) will either revert to the distance learning model with their teacher or another qualified teacher or substitute will provide coverage until their teacher can return.

An AM/PM model was considered but ultimately dismissed based on logistical challenges including: the ability to deep-clean the rooms between sessions, transportation, screening, supervision, and social distancing with staggered starts and dismissal.

Yes. Daily check-ins will support attendance-taking, a focus on social-emotional support and learning, classroom community building, and schedule reminders from the classroom teacher to each group. 

In secondary grades, teachers may opt to extend whole-class sessions using Zoom as appropriate for their lesson.

While we will be using Zoom on campus, there are limitations to how many users can be Zooming simultaneously from campus. 

In elementary, students will receive face-to-face in-person instruction by their teacher. 

 In the secondary model, students will receive face-to-face instruction from their teacher(s) on in-person days. There may be limited cases in which a teach-from-home teacher instructs students who are on campus as well as students at home.

The difference between these scenarios has to do with the fact that secondary class schedules are more complex. Students take multiple courses with distinct subject-specific credentialed teachers.

Actually, elementary students will have more total instructional time with the hybrid model, including  daily check-ins with teachers and classmates, 2 full days of in-person instruction with their teacher, 2 days of online instruction which may include rotations from a specialized teacher and half day of online instruction with their teacher. 

In secondary, students will continue to receive the same number of instructional minutes daily in the hybrid model as in the distance learning model. In the hybrid model, students will be able to receive in-person instruction from their teachers.

Tents have already been installed throughout our campuses. Additional tents have been ordered and will be delivered to school sites and will be utilized for instruction by teacher and/or classified staff when possible. 

Some have asked if we could return to full in-person learning if we add sufficient outdoor learning spaces. Our main challenge with adding additional learning spaces is not creating the physical additional learning spaces, but in finding additional properly credentialed teachers to teach in those spaces.

To put this into perspective, the most recent analysis of what it would take to return to full in person with social distancing in place revealed that we would need to add an additional 143 learning spaces and 414 additional teachers, in addition to the 800 teachers we currently employ.

Students who choose distance learning will be in that program choice through June 2, 2021.  Any change consideration would be subject to school site administrator approval and based on space availability. There will be a process, which is still in development, to request a change.

Students who select the in-person hybrid program will be allowed to return to distance learning for health/medical reasons as approved by a school site administrator. There will be a process, which is still in development, to request a change.

It will be expected that a portion of every class period involves a “live-streaming” connection (aka Zoom video-conferencing ), where teachers are simultaneously interacting with in-person students and with students at home. Teachers will have flexibility about the extent to which they utilize this option beyond the minimum that is required. This will vary depending on the daily lesson.

Yes, independent study has always been a program option and will continue to be available. Some students may have extenuating circumstances that require them to use this option.

If permitted, we are planning to implement a hybrid model for the next phase of our re-entry plan. We will continue to remain flexible and be prepared to pivot and adapt as conditions change.

Our heating systems are designed to run automatically and to adjust to open doors and windows. Even prior to Covid, it was not uncommon to see many doors open during the winter months.

Because of social distancing requirements and space available at our schools, it is not possible to return to a full in-person model until those requirements are lifted. 

To return to full in-person learning with the social distancing requirement in place, we would need an additional 143 learning spaces and 414 additional teachers.

In order to ensure safety of students and staff, visitors (including family members) will only be allowed on campus if they have a previously scheduled appointments.  Visitors will be screened before entering campus.

At the end of each day, staff will sanitize all rooms. Students will use district-provided wipes to clean their desk area after each use.

Yes, all students will have to wear masks. If there is a medical reason that prohibits him/her of  wearing a mask, then a shield will be recommended. Shields are available for staff and students.

Students who are unable to wear a mask will be required to submit a medical exemption completed by their physician indicating that there is a medical reason that they are unable to wear a mask.  Students who are exempt from wearing a mask will be asked to wear alternate forms of PPE such as face-shields with neck drapes.

We will begin with educating our students with the importance of mask-wearing, and then we move into enforcement of mask wearing. 

All school staff will be helping to ensure that face coverings and healthy hygiene protocols are followed.

Schools have supplies of extra masks in the case a student has lost or forgotten at home.

Just as we do with any other student behavior concerns we will ask teachers to work with the student and family.  If the behavior continues it will be elevated to a school administrator for support.

Santa Barbara Unified has an entire web page filled with resources, including groups for parents who are struggling during COVID-19. 

• Social Emotional and Mental Health Resources

• SEL y la salud mental

Parents and teachers who wish to refer a student for mental wellness services should contact their principal in elementary school and their Dean or School Counselor in secondary.

• The same way that teachers monitor health and safety guidelines throughout the school year, teachers and school staff will monitor and reinforce health guidelines

• School nurses will track, isolate, and monitor illnesses daily. Data will be reported to the district's COVID-19 Task Force and to Santa Barbara County Public Health

• School nurses will serve as liaisons between school sites and county Public Health

• Dr. Frann Wageneck, Assistant, Superintendent of Student Services, is responsible for addressing concerns from the public at large

• Families will receive notices of exposures and closures will maintain confidentiality

• Students and staff who are symptomatic for COVID will be offered a COVID-19 test at no charge.

Our district will collaborate with Santa Barbara County Public Health when investigating workplace exposures to COVID-19. Our district nurses, who are registered nurses, will consult with Susan Klein Rothschild, of county Public Health, to determine next steps including:

• Case investigation

• Contact tracing

• Notifications of exposure and potential closures

All Santa Barbara Unified staff will participate in surveillance testing for COVID-19 on a regular schedule (approximately every two weeks.)  If required by the state or federal government, students and staff will be regularly tested in keeping with government mandates. Testing will take place on district property or at home

There are any number of mitigating strategies that a school can use to protect students from Covid-19. We have chosen to mandate social distancing of 6ft to the greatest extent possible, mask-wearing at all times, and frequent hand-washing. Plexiglass is a method used most frequently when physical distancing of six feet is not possible. There are challenges with cleaning and disinfecting the partitions which played into our decision-making.

Head to our district’s technology support page for more information.

We encourage our families to connect with teachers, principals and other support staff at their school. We also welcome questions and concerns via our bilingual Family Engagement Unit. 

Yes, both MTD and STA will offer service on regularly scheduled routes as well as MTD booster service. Seating capacity will also be limited to maintain social distancing and masks are required at all times. Currently it is free to ride MTD but fees may be applied in the future. Students should request their bus passes from their school sites.