Earth Day week

Happy Earth Day week!

This is a week of contemplation, both for how we can better protect our earth, but also how we can create a community that truly takes care of everyone. Ramadan Mubarak to those who celebrate - and fast - to understand hunger and remember our responsibilities to help anyone who is hungry or in need.

As you can read in the Superintendent's April 24th letter, MDUSD continues to build even more partnerships to ensure students & families are fed, at approximately 42,000 meals per week! The latest partnership is with County Connection buses that are driving meals from Bel Air Elementary out to families throughout Bay Point who cannot get to the site. That is equity focus in action.

And thank you to all who donated so far to the MDEDF Coronavirus Remote Learning Fund, which has raised $27,000 to date. Every dollar helps ensure every student has all technology needed to access remote learning now and in the future.

You'll find in this blog:

Next School Board meeting - Monday, April 27
WAVE Internet First offer
Resources - equity & homelessness
Highlights of the Week

Next School Board meeting - Monday, April 27th

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for this Monday, April 27th. Closed Session will begin at 5:00PM virtually.

Public comments received on Monday, 04/27/2020 by voicemail at (801) 228-0093 or by email at [email protected] will be entered into the public record.

Open Session will begin at 7:00PM virtually. View broadcast information at mdusd.org/agendasminutes Minutes will be subsequently published to mdusd.org/boardactions

Agenda is available here. It is a very full agenda, including

a budget update,
update on Maintenance & Operations,
voting on reductions to Classified employees for the 2020-21 school year,
and under Superintendent's report there is a proposed re-organization of district leadership.

WAVE Internet First Offer:

WAVE has launched their free internet offer for low-income families, and they've assured me this will also be in Spanish by next week. It appears to have fewer barriers to families than other offers out there, as they require no contract, no credit card, no installation fees, and the first 60 days are free. After that it's $9.95 per month.

https://www.internetfirst.com/

Please let me know if this or any of the offers at everyoneon.org are working to get any of our MDUSD families connected.

Resources - equity & homeless services:

Equity - Thank you to MDUSD Parents for Multicultural Education for sharing this comprehensive list of equity resources from National Equity Project, which includes 7 distance learning equity consideration

Homeless Services in Concord - Mayor Tim McGallian wrote this letter detailing city partnership efforts to provide housing, meals, domestic violence shelter, and sanitation to homeless residents throughout the city. If you know someone who needs help, dial 211 or see city homeless resources here. Donations are needed to support these efforts, so if you can please consider donating to the Concord Community Foundation fund here.

Highlights of the Week:

Congratulations to Mrs. Angela Beatty at ShoreAcres for winning student supplies for your class from DonorsChoose #KeepKidsLearning!

It has been such a joy to see our teachers focused on ensuring quality distance learning that includes hands-on, offline, student led inquiry, like these Ocean Ambassador projects from Pleasant Hill Middle School. Keep up the creativity, and Happy Earth Day!