03/12/2020
Hello Families,
Please review the following update on Coronavirus (COVID-19) from Superintendent Morse by clicking the link.
*Coronavirus Update from Superintendent Morse*
Dear OUSD Families,
As Spring Break approaches and more news about COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is reported, we would like to share additional information and steps we are taking regarding our preparation and procedures to address the Coronavirus with our community.
Coronavirus will most certainly touch our community and our schools. We are ready and working through plans for possible scenarios and what we know will be a required change from our daily routines.
Effective immediately:
*If your student is sick, please keep them at home. We are primarily concerned with these symptoms: FEVER, COUGH, or SHORTNESS of BREATH.
*All field trips and activity planning for future events will be postponed or evaluated individually on a daily basis.
*Already scheduled on-campus and within-district school activities will remain on the calendar for the time being as we monitor this evolving situation.
*Inter-district sporting events will remain on the calendar for the time being as we review the evolving situation.
*"Social distancing" protocols are in place for events that are continuing, including limited ticket sales and medical screening for performers/participants.
*We are cancelling large group activities with students, such as rallies.
These restrictions will be monitored closely and evaluated daily as we work through this very fluid situation. If you have questions regarding a specific event, please contact your child’s school. Additionally, situations may change daily, so please ensure that you are monitoring ParentSquare communications.
Spring Break Travel
We strongly urge parents to avoid any non-essential travel and reevaluate spring break travel plans. If your family is planning to travel during spring break, we encourage you to please pay attention to the CDC travel advisories and guidelines for any updates regarding your destination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes a list of foreign travel advisories for coronavirus, which you can find here https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices
If you do intend to travel internationally, we ask that let us know using this form http://bit.ly/OUSDTravel, and follow health department guidelines. You may be asked by Ventura County Public Health to self-quarantine upon your return from one of the countries on the CDC list, accessible https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices. In addition, if you are traveling, please be aware that since this is a very dynamic and fluid situation, we do not know what travel restrictions may be enacted by the US government over the next few weeks. It is entirely possible that you may end up traveling through a region (or an airport) that is added to the CDC watch list which would place your students into a 14-day mandatory isolation period upon your return.
School Closure Protocols
School closure recommendations will be directed by the Ventura County Public Health Department.
Currently, we have no students or staff members who have been identified as having COVID-19. If a student or staff member were to test positive and expose others at a school, a discussion with the local public health officer takes place in order to determine the risk level and to consider if school closure is warranted. OUSD has established protocols for managing school site health and safety should an exposure be identified. CDPH has published the School Guidance document to clarify their recommendations, which you can read here http://bit.ly/OUSDschoolguidance
Please know that the health and safety of our students and staff is our paramount priority. We are in constant communication with County Health Officials and the Ventura County Office of Education and will continue to provide you with additional information in the coming days and weeks.
I want to close by sharing how grateful I am to each and every one of you as we navigate this challenging situation together.
Dr. Morse, Superintendent
