I hope everyone had a great start to the school year!

It is a stressful time as the pandemic numbers are rising again.  I visited many schools sites in the first days of school though, where I witnessed heroes everywhere: teachers and counselors working to build a positive space for students transitioning back to in-person school, custodians taking extra care in cleaning, food services moving outdoors and serving exponentially more meals, substitutes filling in where vacancies arose, parents rebuilding supportive networks, and principals managing unpredictable enrollment along with COVID protocols. 

Truly, you are showing with your actions that “Together We Can” make our public schools great spaces of learning and hubs of our community.

Read on for:

1. Superintendent’s message

2. Expanded COVID testing at Mt Diablo Schools

3. COVID Vaccine Fully Approved by US FDA Today

4. School Board meeting August 25th

Superintendent’s Message

Read Dr Clark’s Aug 20th Friday message of the year here, which includes:

• Back to school FAQ

• COVID protocols and district dashboard

• Independent study FAQ

• Highlight: Mt. Diablo High School's garden and food and nutrition program lauded during Congressmen's visit

• Highlight: Mt. Diablo Unified gets 16 electric charging stations for its small fleet of electric buses, which it hopes to expand in the future

• Highlight: Superintendent Dr. Adam Clark shares back-to-school presentation with Concord Chamber committee, highlighting career education

Expanded COVID Testing at Mt Diablo Schools

Mt. Diablo expanded COVID testing starts today, now offered at 15 different sites for you to choose from throughout the week.  Visit https://mdusd.org/covidtesting for details, locations and forms.

You can also contact your health care providers and take advantage of COVID-19 testing available through Contra Costa Health Services.

COVID Vaccine Fully Approved by U.S. FDA Today

Did you know that today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration officially approved the Pfizer COVID vaccine?  

The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.

Access your free COVID-19 vaccine for people ages 12 and older through Contra Costa Health Services, Kaiser Permanente, John Muir Health and at other locations in the community including CVS, Walgreens and the Bay Point Family Health Center.

All public school staff throughout California will be required to show proof of COVID vaccination or submit regular COVID testing results to their employer.

School Board Meeting August 25th

Due to limited staff and school openings, the August 25, 2021 Governing Board meeting will be held through Zoom.  This will allow access to the meeting by staff and the public, as well as the ability to participate in public comments.  We plan to transition back to in-person meetings in September. Find the agenda and details including a Zoom link for accessing the meeting here. 

You may send a public comment via email: emails to [email protected] are automatically distributed to each board member, and will be entered into the public record when received on meeting days only. 

Or to make a Public Comment during the meeting, it will be via zoom: please send an email after 10:00AM on Aug 25th to [email protected].  A link and instructions will be sent for participation.

The agenda includes:

• Resolution Providing for the issuance and sale of 2021 Refunding General Obligation Bonds - a step to save taxpayer money

• Reports on next steps from the Systemic Instructional Review and the Fiscal Health Progress Monitoring plan

• Superintendent’s report, including a discussion on COVID safety protocols

Don’t forget to follow MDUSD on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram  (new profile), and LinkedIn.

p.s. I saw such wonderful use of the great outdoor spaces on our campuses, and so enjoyed hearing the laughter of students!