Greetings TMES Families,

Please review the message that was sent out to staff and families on the evening of Tuesday, November 18, 2020.

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District, Teachers Reach Tentative Agreement on Possible Return to School

Dear Parents/Guardians:

I am pleased to announce that we have reached a Tentative Agreement with Chula Vista Educators (CVE), which is the teachers’ bargaining unit, regarding “Working Conditions During the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

This includes a possible return to “hybrid” in-person instruction in mid-to-late January —provided that all health and safety conditions are met, and San Diego County returns to the “red” level as defined in the state’s tiered system. The county is currently in the most restrictive “purple” tier. Restrictions under the “purple” tier took effect just after midnight Saturday. As part of our tentative agreement with CVE, our District can reopen to in-person instruction in a “hybrid” instructional format—meaning a limited number of students return to school in cohorts that alternate with other students who are participating in distance learning. Parents will have the option to keep their child(ren) in distance learning for the remainder of 2020-21 school year.

We are working with teachers on what the hybrid model would look like and hope to have an update about our progress soon. The earliest a hybrid model could be implemented is mid-to-late January 2021. Two-week notice will be provided to parents and staff members in advance of such a return. Even as our District waits for the region’s COVID19 rates to lower, the District will continue to fortify its safety plan and ensure all health and safety measures are in place, including enhanced ventilation in school classrooms and buildings.

With that in mind, our District will methodically expand the number of students who can return to in-person instruction, building upon the Distance Learning Support Program for families of students most in need of support. The language in the tentative agreement will allow teachers and other certificated employees to volunteer to work in person with a stable cohort of students from their class, (no more than 16 individuals in the cohort and no more than eight individuals per day)—even while the county remains in the purple tier. Teachers who volunteer to return to work in person during this period can do so as soon as agreed-upon safety measures are in place. Priority will be given to high-needs students based on the following criteria:

• Foster and Homeless Youth.
• Students with an Individualized Education Plan or 504 Plan who are struggling to meet academic goals or grade-level standards.
• English Learners with an ELPAC level of one or two; or who are classified as or at risk of becoming Long-Term English Learners.
• Students who are performing significantly below grade level.

I especially want to thank parents for the incredible patience and support maintained throughout this process. I know that school closures have been an incredible strain on many households. Please know that, together with our teachers, our entire system is working collaboratively to see students back on our campuses as quickly as possible and in the safest manner possible. I wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving Break!

Warm regards,

Francisco Escobedo, Ed.D.

Superintendent