Weather Update! Based on the expected conditions, WUSD will not have any on-site instruction on Wednesday the 27th. However, unless there is a power outage at home online instruction will continue on Wednesday as normal.
Parents and Students: We are still operating under our Seemless Summer program. Anyone who is 18 years old or younger, enrolled or not, can receive at no cost a breakfast and/or lunch. Households can pick up to five days at a time including weekends. Meals can be picked up at the Willits High School cafeteria Monday through Friday from 8am to 2 PM. Deliveries are available upon request on a daily or weekly basis. During winter break, meals can be picked up Monday and Tuesday, December 21st and 22nd and Monday and Tuesday the 28th and 29th from 8 to 2 PM. You can call the cafeteria to set up delivery or with any questions you may have at 707-459-7700 ex 1555.
Here is the link to the Spanish Version of the Parent Survey on reopening.
https://forms.gle/qpe4rKuCHWmHo5Hu6
So far WUSD has only received responses representing 370 of approximately 1500 students in the district. In order for us to get a clearer picture of your wishes, we must hear from more of our families. Below are the current results. If you have not filled out the survey please click on this link. https://www.willitsunified.com/o/wusd/page/school-reopening
WUSD has developed a draft plan with input from administration and teachers on how to reopen schools safely. I expect that this plan will have changes to it as time, data and procedures change. A major goal before coming back on site is to develop a viable academic plan, share it with our parents and then poll our parents to determine who wants to send their students back to on-site learning. Without question, WUSD will be following all the County Health Department guidelines for example; masks will be required, social distancing as much as possible, and small cohort sizes. I envision there is a group of parents who are not going to send their child back regardless of the hybrid model we have in place and others who are passionate about getting them back in even if it’s for a short period of time. WUSD wants to provide what the community needs and will have options for either on-site or to continue with distance learning. In order to provide our parents with choices it may require some staff movement and could take some time to put in place. WUSD will be doing a survey with the parents of all students to get information back to help plan for a reopen, whenever that can take place.
The district has all the PPE necessary for staff and students. Every classroom will have a hospital grade air purifier and daily disinfection. Each site will have a set of health standards protocols. (Attached)
At this time, COVID numbers are growing daily and reopening in a fully hybrid model is in not a good idea. The District also has several import safety items on back order, such as air purifiers.
Currently WUSD is allowing students on campus to meet one on one with their teachers as needed, and providing direct services for our students with special needs. In the next few weeks, I would like the coaches to begin athletic conditioning with our students, following all the rules established by the athletic department. With the holidays approaching this is an opportune time to refine the practices and protocols. After the holidays, in mid-January we will have data to determine if it is allowable to reopen. Mark Westerburg
Parent survey https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTNwoD3lYplGUpOBaDjXqVJnggfkQrExjieJOdR5_ts_jzAQ/viewform
More information and Health and Safety Protocols
https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1005611/WUSD_Health_and_Safety_Procedures_and_Protocols.pdf
Thank you to Stan Cooley for taking his Veterans Day to come down to the track and level it out before the rains and fixing the road to the Ag. Farm.
THANK YOU TO THE VOTERS
The passing of Measure I will help us to fix and repair our facilities.
We appreciate the vote of support.
Student Photo Opportunity. Maureen Moore will be at Baechtel Grove Middle School this weekend - Saturday, October 24 from 9 am to 3 pm and Sunday, October 25 from 9 am to 1 pm for school photos! Please see flyer below for details and please let others know. Please contact your school with any questions.
Student Photo Opportunity.
Maureen Moore will be at Baechtel Grove Middle School this weekend - Saturday, October 24 from 9 am to 3 pm and Sunday, October 25 from 9 am to 1 pm for official Willits Unified School District school photos! Please see flyer below for details and please let others
Socktober fundraising for WUSD students.
If You Want Your Taxes to Stay Local, Choose Measure I
Willits public schools are in desperate need of maintenance and repairs. Every single school in the Willits Unified School District leaks when it rains, and that’s just the beginning. The longer we defer maintenance, the more expensive repairs will become.
The question is how do we, as a community, raise funds to pay for those repairs? In the upcoming election, there is a statewide proposition and a local ballot measure that address school funding. California Proposition 15 would only guarantee an additional $15,000 per year for Willits schools (or $180,000 over 12 years). Measure I would allow Willits schools to raise $17 million over 12 years.
If Prop. 15 passes, California schools will get 40 percent of the revenue. Of that, community colleges will receive 11 percent. The remaining funds would be divvied up among K-12 schools statewide. Prop. 15 isn’t polling very well, so depending on it to fund local school repairs is a big risk, but even if it does pass, it only guarantees $100 per student per year, not nearly enough to pay for the upkeep required for Willits schools. It’s possible that more revenue could come our way, but there’s no guarantee.
On the other hand, if Measure I passes, 100 percent of revenue would remain local and go toward repairing and maintaining Willits public schools, including charter schools. Because the general obligation bond will be issued in four or more stages, the school board can reduce the burden on taxpayers should economic conditions change or other funding, such as Proposition 15, become available.
As a reminder, Measure I would cost property owners a maximum of $40 per $100,000 of assessed value (not market value) per year. Assessed value is determined by the Mendocino County Assessor and is listed on your property tax bill. If, for example, your house is assessed at $250,000, your overall annual bill would be $100 (that’s about $8 per month).
With these funds, public schools in Willits would have the funds to responsibly fix what is broken and keep school facilities in good repair. Willits Unified projects include replacing broken furniture at schools districtwide, repairing the roof at Blosser Lane Elementary, purchasing portable classrooms at Brookside Elementary and cafeteria tables at Baechtel Grove Middle School, paving parking lots at Willits High and the District Office, updating science classrooms at Baechtel Grove and Willits High, and similar projects.
Proposition 15 is a whole different deal. I’m not recommending a vote for or against Prop. 15; that’s a personal decision. I’m just letting you know that Prop. 15 is unlikely to provide the funds needed to maintain local schools. Please realize that a vote in favor of Proposition 15 does not replace the need for Measure I. With Measure I, you will be able to see your tax dollars at work here in Willits.
In the last election, 162 people skipped over the school bond—leaving it blank rather than voting yes or no—presumably because they didn’t feel they knew enough to make a good decision. My goal here is to provide information so voters feel comfortable taking a position one way or another. Please don’t leave it blank. If you need more information, I am happy to answer any questions you may have. You can reach me at the district office at 707-459-5314.
If You Want Your Taxes to Stay Local, Vote on Measure I
Willits public schools are in desperate need of maintenance and repairs. Every single school in the Willits Unified School District leaks when it rains, and that’s just the beginning. The longer we defer maintenance, the more expensive repairs will become.
The question is how do we, as a community, raise funds to pay for those repairs? In the upcoming election, there is a statewide proposition and a local ballot measure that address school funding. California Proposition 15 would only guarantee an additional $15,000 per year for Willits schools (or $180,000 over 12 years). Measure I would allow Willits schools to raise $17 million over 12 years.
If Prop. 15 passes, California schools will get 40 percent of the revenue. Of that, community colleges will receive 11 percent. The remaining funds would be divvied up among K-12 schools statewide. Prop. 15 isn’t polling very well, so depending on it to fund local school repairs is a big risk, but even if it does pass, it only guarantees $100 per student per year, not nearly enough to pay for the upkeep required for Willits schools. It’s possible that more revenue could come our way, but there’s no guarantee.
On the other hand, if Measure I passes, 100 percent of revenue would remain local and go toward repairing and maintaining Willits public schools, including charter schools. Because the general obligation bond will be issued in four or more stages, the school board can reduce the burden on taxpayers should economic conditions change or other funding, such as Proposition 15, become available.
As a reminder, Measure I would cost property owners a maximum of $40 per $100,000 of assessed value (not market value) per year. Assessed value is determined by the Mendocino County Assessor and is listed on your property tax bill. If, for example, your house is assessed at $250,000, your overall annual bill would be $100 (that’s about $8 per month).
With these funds, public schools in Willits would have the funds to responsibly fix what is broken and keep school facilities in good repair. Willits Unified projects include replacing broken furniture at schools districtwide, repairing the roof at Blosser Lane Elementary, purchasing portable classrooms at Brookside Elementary and cafeteria tables at Baechtel Grove Middle School, paving parking lots at Willits High and the District Office, updating science classrooms at Baechtel Grove and Willits High, and similar projects.
Proposition 15 is a whole different deal. I’m not recommending a vote for or against Prop. 15; that’s a personal decision. I’m just letting you know that Prop. 15 is unlikely to provide the funds needed to maintain local schools. Please realize that a vote in favor of Proposition 15 does replace the need for Measure I. With Measure I, you will be able to see your tax dollars at work here in Willits.
In the last election, 162 people skipped over the school bond—leaving it blank rather than voting yes or no—presumably because they didn’t feel they knew enough to make a good decision. My goal here is to provide information so voters feel comfortable taking a position one way or another. Please don’t leave it blank. If you need more information, I am happy to answer any questions you may have. You can reach me at the district office at 707-459-5314.
Congratulations to the following certified staff, you have attained permanent status with WUSD! We greatly appreciate your dedication to the students and district.
Lucas Brown, District School Psychologist
Melissa Coughlin, Teacher at Brookside
Katrina Hall, Teacher at High School
Trisa Hall, Teacher at Brookside
Patrick Keough, Teacher at BGMS
Kirsten Myers, Teacher at Brookside Speech and Language
Disney is all safe and sound no fire damage.
All of Brooktrails has been reopened with the exception of third gate.
Due to fire conditions WUSD schools will be closed on Tuesday Sept. 8th.
First day of school 2020.
Wi-Fi Bus locations and times.
HOTSPOT at home
For people who have cell service this is how you make your iphone a hotspot so your chromebook can connect to it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NToTQfrdNHg
This is how you turn your Android phone into a hotspot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Y1HS4j8SU
This would work for people who have good phone service but don't pay for home internet service. This is how you can check to see if a hotspot will work in your location. The hotspot is simply just like the phone for access to the internet.