FCUSD Notifies Families on the Reopening of District Schools

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - At the October 22 Board of Education meeting an update on school reopening was presented along with the District’s goals of minimizing disruption for students and staff, while concurrently maintaining health and safety precautions and delivering the highest level of instruction possible for all students.

Elementary Education
During the last few weeks, Elementary school principals have been reaching out to both families and staff to learn who will return in Hybrid and who will remain 100% remote in a school’s Virtual Academy. 

Matching students to their current teachers is the primary goal, which is dependent on both student and teacher having the same schedule, which on rare occasions may still necessitate a change due to other site-based scheduling needs. In instances where schedules do not align, every effort will be made at the student’s site to accommodate the family’s wishes for their child. Families whose priority is to stay at their school of residence will have that opportunity, however, teacher scheduling requests may not be possible. School sites are rebalancing class rosters now. Families will be notified of placement by October 30.

Other Information
Transportation will be offered for Elementary PM sessions; Lunches will be “grab-and-go”–Breakfast will be provided for schools that provide this service; Recess will look different. Supervised, small group Breaks will be part of the school day, allowing students to eat a snack and to stretch, move, and play, with all health and safety guidelines in place. Students will be kept with their AM or PM small group cohort of students during the Break.

Secondary Education
The complexity of secondary schedules creates challenging circumstances as we transition to offering both Hybrid and Virtual scenarios simultaneously.

Staff leaders in Curriculum & Instruction and ETIS, are working together to bring technological solutions to this complex challenge. Livestreaming capabilities in the classroom will help foster student/teacher interaction and minimize schedule disruptions.

Please note: Livestreaming will be synchronous instruction and will follow the Board approved A/B schedules.  

The technology equipment needed to set up livestreaming is being procured now, and is scheduled to begin to arrive on October 30. 

Key notes
Students can attend in-person or virtually for synchronous learning; Students in-person and virtual will be able to interact with one another and their teacher by using the newly installed cameras and the current classroom AV systems; Technology for livestreaming was purchased with one-time CARES Act funds.

Budget
The District presented a Budget Study Session at the Board Meeting to examine the overall budget and projections for the next three years. We began public Budget Study Sessions in November 2018, and continue informing and engaging public participation. We are in a funding deficit.  As we look at ways to balance the budget, we affirm the guiding principles:

Reduce expenditures; Minimize impact to students; Minimize potential layoffs; Review programs 

The next Budget Study Session will be:

November 5, 4:00 pm. To 5:00 p.m.

During the Board Meeting, Rhonda Crawford, the Chief Business Operator presented the 2020-21 Revised Budget Book.