In this edition ...

• Changes to volunteer, visitor policies
• Mercury News Opinion: Dr. Rudolph on hope amid learning loss
• Staff: Do you have a few good people to refer to MVWSD?
• District Office hours: February break

As we continue our vigilance against COVID infections, our goal is that our policies reflect the risk as evidenced by transmission rates. Now that spring is approaching and county COVID cases are low, we are making changes to volunteer requirements. 

For volunteers, effective on Feb. 27, 2023:

* Volunteers are no longer required to have a COVID booster (proof of baseline COVID vaccination required)

* Masks for volunteers are recommended (not required)

* Indoor/in-vehicle masking on school trips is recommended (not required).

* Only parents whose students qualify for Free and Reduced Price Meals program may request assistance from the District to cover the cost of fingerprinting.

Please note this new volunteer requirement:

* Effective July 1, 2023 and in compliance with California law (AB506), volunteers will be required to provide proof of completion of annual abuse and mandated reporter training. More info on how you can complete this training is to come.

Volunteers who will be on campus more than 3 times this year for more than 10 minutes each visit are required to complete an application process and receive a badge. This process is vitally important to protect our students' safety and to ensure MVWSD complies with state law. More information: https://www.mvwsd.org/volunteers. Each badge is tied to a volunteer’s security check.  Sharing badges is a violation of state law and will lead to not only a permanent ban for the volunteer and the person using the badge, but also other actions.

For visitors, effective on Feb. 27, 2023:

* Indoor masking is recommended (not required) for spectators at events, both indoor and outdoor.

Dr. Rudolph talks in the Mercury News here about how COVID and learning loss are not a cause for hopelessness but could be the makings of another great generation, especially with the collective guidance of caring adults. 
  

As we consider best practices in recruiting high-quality individuals, we realize the value of our staff as our best recruiters.  Please consider if you have friends who might qualify you for the rewarding referral program for our employees who connect us with new MVWSD employees. If the person you refer to us lists you as a referral and is hired, you will receive a bonus. Please click here for the details: Employee referral program webpage
 

Just a reminder: Friday, Feb. 17 is a minimum day for students (end of the trimester) and winter break is Feb. 20-24. All school buildings and the District Office will be closed during winter break.

We'll see students and staff back on Monday, Feb. 27. Please don't forget to use your free COVID test the night before to ensure you come to school healthy.