BUHSD Families,
We have been excited to see students back from spring break this past week – a welcome change from this same time last year.
Mitigation Update
As students are back on campus, we remain appreciative of their willingness to follow the mitigation strategies we have in place. These strategies include wearing a cloth face covering at all times, following signage for modified traffic patterns, maintaining physical distancing when possible, avoiding gathering in common areas, and washing their hands or using hand sanitizer frequently when on campus. These strategies also include staying home if feeling ill or exhibiting any symptoms (such cough, sore throat, headaches, congestion/runny nose, fever of 100.4 or higher without medication, difficulty breathing, aches/chills, vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea). We know these are important steps in keeping the rate of transmission low in our schools.
As we have continued to monitor the data on the county school dashboard, the case rate in our community has dropped to 84.45 cases per 100,000 this past week with the percent positivity remaining steady at under 7%. These numbers downgrade our community transmission level from high to substantial under the new health department guidance.
With the diligence of you as families keeping your students home when symptomatic, and with the lowered level of transmission in the community, we are going to stop the routine temperature checks as students board busses and enter campus. We know the checks slow the process of getting students to school and on campus in the morning. We will still take a student’s temperature if they indicate they are feeling ill or appear to be symptomatic.
Superintendent Search
The Governing Board wants to thank everyone who completed the community survey that was sent out earlier this month and/or who attended the community forum with the finalists this past week. After a process that included multiple interview rounds and the community forum, the Governing Board has voted to enter into contract negotiations with Dr. Steve Bebee. Dr. Bebee has served in public education for over a quarter of a century as a teacher, dean of students, assistant principal, principal, and currently as Superintendent of the Casa Grande Union High School District. He is excited to make the community of BUHSD his new home beginning with the 2021-22 academic year.
Again, we are excited to have students back on campus and hope that this final quarter of the school year provides each student an opportunity to grow academically and enjoy social interaction that was not possible when closed last spring.
Sincerely,
Rob Roberson
Interim Superintendent