| August 21, 2020 Dear MUSD Parent and Guardian, I hope this communication finds your student, family, and you healthy and well. I want to thank you for your partnership as we navigate these unchartered waters. I continue to be honored and humbled to work with supportive families and community members and dedicated professional faculty, staff, and Governing Board members. Each of us remains united in our focus and purpose to provide a nurturing and exceptional educational experience for our students. I am writing to provide an update on our Safe and Thoughtful Return to School Plan and the work that is occurring related to the return to safe in-person classroom learning. As we talk about reopening school buildings, there are two key components: When and How. Currently, the when is addressed through the work of the Pima County's Back to School Committee and associated efforts. This committee is comprised of superintendents of all area school districts and Pima County Health Department (PCHD) authorities. From these meetings, the Pima County Health Department COVID-19 Progress Report and Local Recommendations were developed, aligned with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) benchmarks. The PCHD progress report identifies three criteria (Disease, Healthcare Capacity, and Public Health Capacity) to consider for the return to in-person, classroom instruction. The Disease Criteria reflects the same three benchmarks listed by ADHS. The Healthcare Capacity Criteria looks at the healthcare system's ability to identify new cases of COVID-19 and the ability to safely and responsibly provide care for patients should a surge in cases occur. The final criteria, Public Health Capacity Criteria, is designed to support districts and communities moving forward. This includes the support that MUSD will receive from PCHD as we finalize all health mitigation and return to school plans. The clear guidance for knowing when it is safe to return to the classroom is appreciated and needed, and we are encouraged by the progress that is being made with regards to the benchmarks. The critical next part is the how. The how focuses on what we are doing to be ready to safely open schools. As we watch these benchmarks and metrics, the District's COVID Response and Return to School Task Force committees work on the refinement and expansion of our health mitigation and protocol strategies that need to be in place to safely return to school. We are also working with a PCHD School Liaison and following the guidance and expertise of health professionals. Additionally, the Pima County Back to School Committee continues our collaborative planning efforts. Thank you again for being a part of this amazing District and for supporting our faculty, staff, and schools. I will continue to provide updates as we move forward in decision-making and I invite you to watch the District's Governing Board meetings on our YouTube channel. Please take care and stay healthy, Dan Streeter, Ed.D.
Superintendent | 
