Head of School's Message: October 5

This year, one of Chandler's goals is to manage uncertainty by working within the framework of state and local re-opening restrictions. As a member of the California Association of Independent Schools, Chandler is obligated to do everything by the book and follow the rules and protocols written by the Centers for Disease Control and local health departments. Over the past two weeks, frustration levels among parents in area schools have increased, as sectors of the local economy have been allowed to re-open while schools remain closed. The virus situation locally is improving slowly, and we need to be patient. Health department officers and elected officials are in unenviable positions. We need to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and trust them to make decisions in our community's best interests.

 

Local officials are wary of opening up too quickly only to have shut down because of a surge in infections. The fear is not so much for the children's safety as much for the adults with whom they come in contact.

 

Schools can open without waivers when infection metrics go from a higher risk of community disease transmission to a lower risk. The test positivity rate is down to 2.9% in LA County, the lowest it has been since April. New cases need to be below 7 per 100,000 for two weeks before schools are allowed to re-open. At the end of last week, the latest case rate had increased slightly to 7.3 per 100,000. For schools to open, the health departments require the test positivity rate to remain as low as it is now and for the case rates to come down below seven and stay there for two weeks.

 

On Wednesday, Pasadena's Health Department using criteria from the state, invited Chandler to apply for a waiver for 10% of the student body in grades K-2. The state had been reserving waivers for high poverty schools, with large numbers of English language learners and special needs students or students who needed assessments. The criteria have since been broadened, and Chandler is applying to bring back our kindergarten class under a waiver. Kindergarten constitutes just over 10% of our student body. Once the health departments have determined that it is safe to do so, we want to get everyone back safely who intends to return, but we hope to start with kindergarten. As I wrote last week, Pasadena's Health Department has indicated the process of school re-opening will be slow and staggered.

 

Once our application has been reviewed by Pasadena's Health Department, it will be sent to the California Department of Public Health for final approval.  We have been told that the process should take two weeks. If all goes according to plan and assuming we get a waiver, Chandler's Board votes to activate the waiver, we are hoping to have kindergarten back on October 21. The uncertain and the unpredictable have been constants over the past seven months, and we will deal with whatever comes our way and always act in the best interest of the students.

 

The upcoming long weekend will give everyone a break from Zoom and from their screens. As we reach the mid-point between the start of the year and Thanksgiving, we are adding an extra day and including Friday, October 9 to make a four-day weekend. The longer than usual break will give our teachers, students, and parents an opportunity to rest and recharge.