Dear friends and partners,
The cusp of spring is a special time in schools as families start culminating a year of learning, friendship, and accomplishments—all of which made
this week’s announcement that LA Unified schools will be closed through the end of the school year and summer that much harder. This decision comes after consultation with public health officials and the Governor, and while it might not come as a surprise, it’s disappointing nonetheless.
While
graduations and end of year events will have to be celebrated virtually for now, I know how meaningful these achievements are for our students and families. No amount of video conferencing can replace these celebrations, but we will do our best to commemorate the end of a truly unprecedented school year. We are also exploring the best ways to give our high school graduates and their families the opportunity they deserve to receive their diploma and celebrate in person as soon as it’s safe to do so.
And the learning continues, from a distance. Late last week,
the Superintendent reached an agreement with our teachers that provides for a flexible transition to distance learning. Our office will work to ensure that, within the scope of this agreement, school communities work together to meet the needs of our employees and of the students and families they serve. The at-home learning will not be perfect, and I will continue to push and ask questions that keep students and families at the forefront of decision making during this moment.
These are unprecedented times and we will all need to work together, think creatively, and practice flexibility to get through this. We also need to support each other. This crisis has caused undue stress on students, families, and employees, and as long as this continues to affect the wellbeing of our school communities, we will be here to help.
To that end, I have begun hosting regular virtual conversations—starting with one focusing on student resilience and coping this past Wednesday. Next week we will be talking with District leaders, experts, and parents about
strategies for supporting our early learners. And in the interest of giving folks a moment of fun and distraction during this time, we will also be streaming a
live magic show on Facebook today at 4:30p. Hope to see you there!
We're all in this together, apart,
