“All of us are trying to find the best solutions,” said board Vice President Marlys Davidson, as she gave a Vice President’s report at the Los Alamitos Unified School District board.
Board Preident Meg Cutuli said she had expected not to be able to attend so she had asked in advance for Mrs. Davidson, the board’s vice president, to prepare a report for the meeting. Even though a last-minute schedule change did allow Cutuli to be present at the meeting, she asked Davidson to go ahead and provide the report she had already prepared.
“This is my first time doing it so I’m going to try my best,” said Davidson before launching into a tribute to everyone within the system, including everyone who has put aside most everything else in their lives to seek out the best for Los Al students.
First, she singled out Dr. Andrew Pulver, Superintendent, whom Davidson said was simply “not satisfied” with the easy way out” when the pandemic hit so he met with other Superintendents to search for a better model.
Davidson said Pulver’s early action has allowed the system to stay ahead of what has become an extremely fluid situation. Things change most every day, she said, but since the beginning, the Los Al Superintendent has set his own pace which began by meeting with other unsatisfied OC superintendents.
“These superintendents were not satisfied to just find a quick solution so they came together to share ideas..and resources,” she said. “I want to commend you on that because there is nothing better than a group of experts in a room together really trying to get to the heart of a problem,” she said.
She then spoke about all the physical work going on at campus to add features, improve facilities etc. so she thanked staff and contractors for “doing incredibly difficult work…to make next year as wonderful as possible.”
She thanked Ondrea Reed, Director of Educational Services, whom she said was coordinating between Pulver and more than 70 teachers in multiple working groups to develop a multitude of informed options for reopening schools.
“I’m just so proud of the fact that we are considering that,” and that the system has created “a very important committee of people that will look at all kinds of options and see how they can suppor students coming back after being in a dramatic sense of isolation,” said the former teacher turned board member.
Davidson said the more than 70 teachers are “giving up their summer” to “care for the kids of the Los Al system.“
“When the pandemic kicked in, we had to close schools and it would have been very easy to say I’m going to have my summer tell me what I’m going to do in the fall,” Davidson said, “but these 72 teachers have come together and they’re working with Mrs. Reed and her team to develop an answer all kinds of questions about how our kids can learn.”
According to Davidson, the working groups include the following;
• Elementary
• Middle school
• High school
• Secondary education
• Special education
• Traditional and hybrid learning
• Mental Health and Trauma Informed Instruction
• High school departments meeting to address curriculum
• Athletics
“So I think when people say why haven’t you made a decision,” she said, “why would we have made a decision because every day we get more evidence and become more wise on how to deal with this virus every day.”
“I thank you with all of our hearts for giving up your summer,” said Davidson, adding that “everyone is trying to find the best solution.”
“I just wanted to honor all of the people that have up their days in the midst of a crazy situation to care about our kids so thank you very much.”
Cutuli leaned in and told Davidson the report “echoes the heart of the board for the overwhelming work that has been done.”
Pulver said the ongoing working groups will continue to develop options as the staff seeks as much data as possible as they begin to make final decisions.