Dear Parents,
Principals have received many inquiries regarding what would happen at school in the event of a teacher strike. It is my hope that the following information helps answer some of your questions. You are welcome to contact the office for further information or clarification. In the event of a strike, regular updates will be posted on the district’s website at www.capousd.org and we will be communicating via ListServ and automatic phone messages.
Will parents be notified in the event of a strike? Yes. The district would expect to receive a minimum of a 48 hour notice from the union in the event of a strike. The district would then contact parents via our automatic phone messaging system and by ListServ. Our school will also be sending out additional information that is specific to our site including schedule changes. Please be advised that in the event of a strike, the daily bell schedule will be altered. School will begin at 8:00 am and dismissed at 1:35 pm. The complete schedule will be posted on our school site in the event of a strike.
Will schools be open in the event of a strike? Yes. In the event of a strike, each school has secured substitutes and developed enrichment lesson plans to cover classes. Should the district feel that it does not have the resources to keep schools open during a strike, the Superintendent can make the decision to close schools or shorten the school day further.
Who will be teaching students in the event of a strike? In the event of a strike CUSD substitutes who have received fingerprint clearance through the Department of Justice and have met the same safety clearance as all CUSD employees will be covering classes. Substitute teachers are required to have 4-year college degree as well as verification of passing the CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test). Many of our substitutes hold California teaching credentials as well. We will continue to ensure that volunteers on our campuses are cleared through a Megan’s Law Check and have received DOJ clearance if they are alone with students.
What will my child be doing in class? On the first day of any strike, students will first report to our gyms to get directions, hear announcements, and to learn their room assignment. It is our hope that we would have all students settled into classrooms within the first two hours. In the event of a strike, all CUSD high schools will be using emergency substitute lesson plans that involve enrichment activities related to subjects that we hope will be of high interest to high school students – i.e. the economics of the credit system and credit cards, interest and skills inventory and tests, interpersonal communications, etc. Although the instruction will not and cannot be the same as when our teachers are teaching, emergency substitute plans have been developed, materials have been gathered, and they are ready to be put into place. We will do our very best to update parents throughout the day via ListServ email and our school website. This will become very important as your student may contact you asking that you call and excuse him/her from school. I respectfully ask that you not flood the school phone lines to call students out of school, but rather insist that they remain until the end of the school day. It is very likely that our phone lines will overloaded, and I need your help so that we can focus on doing our very best during what will be a challenging situation.
Will armed security guards be on campus? No. School Resource Officers (who are members of the Sheriff’s Department and regular employees at our secondary schools), may be armed as they are on any given school day; however additional security guards who may be present to assist with traffic duty and supervision around the perimeter of the schools will not be armed.
Will student absences be counted during a strike? Yes. Schools will maintain regular accounting of absences in the event of a strike.
Will the school district lose money if students do not attend school during a strike? Possibly. While the bulk of school funding comes from the State’s ADA accounting which ended March 19th, the school district receives categorical funding from the state and federal government which may be calculated on overall ADA throughout the year.
Will transportation services be available during a strike? If for any reason transportation services are not available, parents will be notified directly. We would also encourage parents to check the CUSD website at www.capousd.org for up-to-date information.
Will food services be available during a strike? Yes.
Will after school activities be cancelled during a strike? All after school activities and athletics would be cancelled on the 1st day of a strike. At the end of the 1st day, high school activities and athletics will be evaluated for possible reinstatement on subsequent days on a case-by-case basis. Reinstatement will be offered based on the availability of certificated teachers and certified coaches.
Will the YMCA and after school child care at elementary and middle schools campuses (i.e. Kids’ Factory) be cancelled during a strike? No.
It is my hope that the information above has answered many of the questions you may have. Our highest priority during a strike will be the safety and welfare of our students. As always, thank you for your support of our school!
Deni Christensen
Principal
Capistrano Valley High School
Education is a work of heart. ♥
