Lakeport Unified transitions to new districtwide COVID testing system
LAKEPORT >> The Lakeport Unified School District (LUSD) held their governing board meeting on Thursday, with limited participants, to ensure recommended guidelines for social distance, while livestreaming it via Zoom. The event was open for community engagement and that is exactly how it started: With the voice of the student. Clear Lake High School student Parisee Cemendtaur said she had proposals about distance learning, on behalf of the California Association of Student Councils.
“It’s been really hard for students — like me,” said Cemendtaur. “This proposal would allow administrators and a student representative to collab. creating an anonymous survey for students. In order to follow up with students regarding their current distance learning situation.”
Cemendtaur added that the survey would allow student administrators to better understand the students’ mental health, home environment, life workload and overall performance compared to pre distance learning. The results of this survey would then be sent to the board members, in which they will discuss the information and adapt, based on the needs of their students. This would give students an opportunity to communicate their personal issues at home and their needs from the school to school administrators.
According to their online mission statement, the purpose of the California Association of Student Councils is “to improve the quality of life in the world by developing skilled, ethical, and sensitive leaders of diverse backgrounds and cultures.”
LUSD Superintendent, Jill Falconer said she has had several updates regarding COVID and about the district’s potential transition back to hybrid learning. “We did receive some of the guidance that the state has been promising about reopening. The waiver program is gone. And there are different rules.”
Falconer informed the zoom attendees that this
week there was a transition to a new districtwide COVID testing system. “We tested 23 employees and we’ll continue our Thursday surveillance testing, but there are going to be new requirements for staff testing to open school. On Tuesday we had to quickly gather and survey our staff about who wanted the vaccine and who did not want the vaccine. We had about 150 yeses and about 40 nos, so, we will proceed with that.”
Falconer said superintendents met twice to figure out how to prioritize which employees and staff members would have the vaccine offered to them first, and added that administrators are working to follow the guidelines from the County and the State. ‘
“Our teachers and staff that are working directly with students now will be prioritized next week. Our priority is also the high risk categories — age 75, sometimes 65, and above, and people with preexisting conditions.”
— Jill Falconer, LUSD superintendent
“Our teachers and staff that are working directly with students now will be prioritized next week. Our priority is also the high risk categories — age 75, sometimes 65, and above, and people with preexisting conditions,” she said.
Falconer also talked about the struggles of dealing with a whole year of virtual activities. “The staff is still in as much stress as this year has created. They’re still trying to learn and be lifelong learners and continue to try to create high quality education for our students,” she added.
The meeting concluded with the announcement of a new member to the Lakeport
Unified School District. Michelle Marie took part of the Zoom call to introduce herself as the new campus supervisor of Lakewood Elementary School: “I was offered the position about two days ago and I’m very excited to join the (Lakeport Unified School) District. I have a great passion for education, so hopefully I can bring that to the district as well.”