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Pasadena Unified School District (Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)
At the April 23, 2020 Pasadena Unified School District Board Meeting a decision regarding grades during the pandemic was reached.
By Albert Martin
The agreement with UTP (United Teachers of Pasadena) reads that:
On March 16, 2020 and ending on May 28, 2020, teachers in grades K-5 will utilize pass/no pass marks and teachers in grades 6-12 will utilize an A-D scale. The option to lower students’ grades from the last marking period will be forfeited during this time period in order to account for opportunity and access limitations that may be faced by both teachers and students. Grades marked on March 13, 2020 are the lowest grade any student can receive during this time. Students who received an “F” as of March 13 will be given additional opportunities to increase their grade if afforded access to their classes and teachers. Students will not be assigned ‘incomplete,’ ‘F’ or “NG” grades if they are unable to increase their grade during the Extended Distance Learning time due to their inability to access their education for technology and/or social emotional reasons.
There be special circumstances for Rose City Continuation High School tak[ing] into account that March 13 was the close of their Quarter 3, and the commencement of remote learning on March 16 coincided with their start of Quarter 4. Therefore, students will receive a grade no lower than “C” for this Quarter, and receive five full credits per course. The decision that there will Pass/No Pass for students in grades K-5 and the A-D scale for students in grades 6-12 during this time period may be extended by the Superintendent or his designee in the event summer school and/or extended school year (ESY) continue an Extended Distance Learning schedule beyond May 28, 2020.
No child should be harmed during this pandemic
The Pasadena Unified School District stressed that no child should be harmed during this pandemic.
The decision about PEF (Pasadena Educational Foundation) summer school is still currently pending. PEF has suspended payments for PEF during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is being discussed whether PEF summer school be virtual or a hybrid model of online and in person instruction.
COC virtual meeting
Preparations for the 2020-2021 school year were discussed in the COC (Citizens Oversight Committee) virtual meeting on April 23, 2020. It was stated that all schools would be cleaned and sanitized. Due to the closure of Roosevelt Elementary School which had a high special needs population: McKinley School will need to be ready for the medically fragile students and Willard Elementary School will need to be ready for the Moderate/Severe Special Education students.
Facilities
Nelson Cayabyab, Chief of Facilities announced that he is taking leave now and starting his retirement. Miguel Perez from Maintenance and Operations and Leslie Barnes who is the Chief of Finances will take on additional responsibilities in addition their full time jobs to fill Nelson Cayabyab’s former role.
PUSD Board Meetings are currently being held virtually (see the PUSD Website for information).
Hotspots
Finally, it was discussed that each child in the district does not currently have a hotspot in the Pasadena Unified School district. The Pasadena Unified School District is working hard to obtain more hotspots. Packets are being mailed to students who do not currently have a hotspot. Using the busses that the Pasadena Unified School District is already paying for as hotspots is being looked into. Many parents in Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre who have children that are not currently attending the Pasadena Unified School District have asked to be included in what the Pasadena Unified School District has been sending out. This has shed a positive light on the Pasadena Unified School Districts response and communication during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Albert Martin is a resident of Pasadena.
Yes! every student will get A+ in all subjects