SFUSD and UCSF Partner to Prepare for School Opening in Fall 2021

Posted Date

SFUSD and UCSF Partner to Prepare for School Opening in Fall 2021

Press Release

San Francisco (July 1, 2021) - The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) are teaming up to inform students, families and staff about health and safety protocols as they prepare for a full district-wide return to in-person learning five days a week when the school year begins on Aug. 16. 

The UCSF CARES Taskforce will work with SFUSD to provide information, consultation and expertise to SFUSD families and staff related to: 

  • The science of COVID-19 transmission 
  • Safety protocols 
  • Practical application of state and county guidelines 
  • Communicating health information to SFUSD’s diverse staff and student community 

SFUSD leaders and UCSF CARES Task Force members are inviting all SFUSD families to attend multilingual town halls on July 6, 7 or 8 to learn more about health and safety information and ask questions related to COVID-19 prevention and school reopening. 

Events will be available in multiple languages, with additional interpretation available upon request. Attendees can join all events via Zoom or watch the live stream on the SFUnified Facebook page.

In addition to town halls for the broader district community, the UCSF CARES Task Force will consult with SFUSD senior leadership, individual school communities and specific family affinity groups. They plan to engage with community-based organizations that are partnered with the district in order to build a network of trusted partners equipped with up-to-date information about SFUSD plans and health information to SFUSD families, and in particular families who identify as African American, Latinx, Asian, Samoan and Pacific Islander. 

SFUSD and the UCSF CARES Taskforce will align their work with guidelines issued by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH). Many updated guidelines for K-12 schools are still pending. 

“We are looking forward to welcoming all students back in the fall, and appreciate the support from UCSF to ensure our families and staff are ready for a safe return,” SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Vincent Matthews said. “It takes a village, and I’m grateful for this partnership with local health leaders so our SFUSD community can receive the best possible guidance and information as we navigate through this pandemic.”

“We are excited to team up with the UCSF CARES Taskforce as we welcome students back in the next school year. UCSF is an important partner in providing necessary information about health protocol and guidelines, and the latest COVID-19 developments to families as we work toward fully reopening PK-12 schools. I especially look forward to the ongoing discussions and the efforts toward making it accessible to all parents and community members. The most important part of this process is ensuring that we keep families well-informed of our district’s plans and health guidelines so that our students’ education and safety take priority,” said SF Board of Education Commissioner Jenny Lam.  

“This past year has been challenging for all children and their families,” said Lee Atkinson-McEvoy MD, pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. “We are pleased to partner with SFUSD to hear from parents and community groups on how best to help families feel confident as they return to school full-time this Fall.”

SFUSD and UCSF Town Halls 

Join SFUSD district leaders and UCSF health experts as they share health and safety information and answer questions related to COVID-19 prevention and school reopening. Events will be available in multiple languages, with additional interpretation available upon request. Attendees can join all events via Zoom or watch the live stream on the SFUnified Facebook page.

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