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PCOE
Phone: 530.889.8020
| Fax: 866.840.2941 |

Placer County Office of Education
360 Nevada Street Auburn, Auburn, CA 95603 USA
PCOE
Phone: 530.889.8020
| Fax: 866.840.2941 |

Placer County Office of Education
360 Nevada Street Auburn, Auburn, CA 95603 USA

Crisis Response
PCOE Public Facing Web Site

 Crisis Response
​​Crisis Response

 Introduction

The safety our our students, staff and community is always our top priority. The Placer County Office of Education works collaboratively with county agencies, law enforcement and emergency services to ensure the community and local school district personnel have the information they need to make informed decisions.

 Coronavirus (COVID-19)
​​

 Current Update

Placer County School Facilities Closed for In-Person Instruction for Remainder of Academic Year

Based on guidance from Placer County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson, Placer County public schools and state preschool facilities will remain closed for in-person instruction through the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year.  

Read the full press release.

“Based on modeling of the COVID-19 outbreak in California and in Placer County, it will not be safe for students to return to school in a traditional in-person model through the end of May into early June,” Sisson said.

Instruction will continue to students through online or other home-learning models. Seniors who are on track to graduate will graduate. This decision aligns with recommendations shared earlier this week from both Governor Newsom and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

“We understand the heartbreak our students and families are experiencing,” said Placer County Superintendent of Schools Gayle Garbolino-Mojica. “As school leaders who value education and the well-being of our students, we are heartbroken as well. Decisions such as these are not made lightly. We trust the data from public health officials and strongly believe this is in the best interest of our school communities and our entire region.”

Parents, students and families will continue to receive updates and information regarding grades, transcripts, commencement ceremonies, summer school options and more from their school districts and charter schools regularly through email, by phone and through social media. School facilities will stay open to staff for essential tasks. Schools will continue to provide meals and childcare, when possible. The end of the school year will follow the district calendars for all students.

The Placer County Office of Education's Childcare Resource and Referral Program is available for families working in essential services. Call (530) 745-1380 for assistance.

Additional Details

Nutrition Services

  • School districts are diligently working to ensure students have access to meals during school closures. Please verify meal service options wth your school district during regularly scheduled Spring Break. View meal option information.

Safety Reminders

During the time of the school closure, students and families should follow the Department of Public Health’s recommendations for social distancing at events and gatherings, and to minimize social contact to the extent possible.

  • Stay home as much as possible with the exception of essential services.

  • Be mindful in childcare decisions to avoid exposing vulnerable persons, such as grandparents, to children.

  • Remember to continue efforts to reduce the spread of germs by washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, cover your cough or sneeze, stay home if you are sick and continue to disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

Additional Information

For general questions about COVID-19 and precautions currently recommended by Placer County Public Health, residents may call the county’s coronavirus information line at (530) 886-5310. Current information about the coronavirus is available at placer.ca.gov/coronavirus and on the CDC website.

Executive Orders from Governor Newsom

 About

​Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause symptoms of colds. However, this is a “novel” virus, originating in China in late 2019 (hence the name, 2019 Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19). Until recently, this particular strain of coronavirus circulated among animals only.  Now it appears to have spread to humans, and can be spread between humans. 

Current Understanding of Virus

  • Symptoms most commonly include: fever with cough or shortness of breath; Some people have fewer or no symptoms at all.  Headache, sore throat, and runny nose also occur with this virus.

  • Spread is most likely from droplets (cough and sneezing).

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers this a serious public health threat, but with health risk from this virus to be low at this time. 

  • Symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear in as few as two days, or as long as 14 days, after exposure.

  • Most people with this infection will recover on their own. There is no specific treatment for novel coronavirus infection yet.  

  • For patients who are more severely ill, hospitals can provide supportive care.

Preventing Illness

To help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, including the coronavirus and flu, follow these important tips: 

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

  • Stay home when you are sick.

  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

  • Individuals with chronic health issues and/or individuals experiencing severe symptoms should be evaluated by a medical professional.

  • Wearing of face masks by students and staff members. Wearing of masks in public is not recommended for Americans by the CDC nor by our local public health department. Handwashing is considered the best protection from infectious diseases.

For general questions about COVID-19 and precautions currently recommended by Placer County Public Health, residents may call the county’s coronavirus information line at (530) 886-5310. Current information about the coronavirus is available at placer.ca.gov/coronavirus and on the CDC website.

 Families

​The following information is intended for families of students enrolled in a PCOE school or program such as Pathways iCARE Charter or Court & Community Schools.

On March 9, the Placer County Board of Supervisors declared a local health emergency. As part of that effort, Placer County Public Health will be moving from containment strategies (keeping the spread of the virus controlled) to community mitigation strategies in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout our region with a focus to protect vulnerable communities and guard critical infrastructure. Efforts such as reducing social contacts between people in schools, workplaces and community settings can be the first line of defense against highly transmissible infectious diseases.

Update as of April 3, 2020

Thank you for your patience and collaboration as we transition from our traditional classrooms to a distance-learning model. Our teachers and staff are working collaboratively to share best practices and develop resources to keep students engaged and learning. Our leadership team is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our entire community.

According to Placer County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson, “Based on modeling of the COVID-19 outbreak in California and in Placer County, it will not be safe for students to return to school in a traditional in-person model through the end of May into early June.”

With this guidance, Placer County superintendents, charter school operators and the Placer County Superintendent of Schools have made a unified decision to close school facilities for in-person instruction through the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year. This decision aligns with recommendations shared earlier this week from both Governor Newsom and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.

Distance Learning Opportunities

We begin the transition to a distance learning model. This transition will be a learning process for all, and we expect there will be road bumps and lessons learned during this work-in-progress. We appreciate everyone's patience and flexibility and remain committed to providing consistent, transparent communication throughout each step. View the distance learning opportunities for PCOE programs.

Questions for PCOE School Leaders

Thank you for your support during these challenging and unprecedented times. If you have any questions please contact your site principal. 

  • Pathways iCARE, iCARE Independent Study and the Come Back Program: Christina Fahlstrom, Principal, cfahlstrom@placercoe.org 

  • Pathways iLearn Academy: Andy Wood, Principal, awood@placercoe.org

  • Honour Schaps Court School, Koinonia Community School and Tahoe Truckee Community School: Morgan Lynch, Assistant Principal, mlynch@placercoe.org

The complete clinical picture with regard to COVID-19 is not fully understood, and the situation is fluid. While these decisions are difficult to make, we are taking these actions in consultation with Placer County Public Health based on what is known at this time about the transmission and severity of the illness to best protect our school communities. Our top priority is the health and safety of our students and staff, and we take this responsibility seriously.

 PCOE Employees

​The following information is intended for PCOE employees.

Update as of April 3, 2020

Based on the "shelter-in-place" order issued by Governor Newsom, PCOE is taking the enhanced community mitigation measures to ensure operations and instruction can continue in a safe environment. All  Placer County public school and state preschool facilities will remain closed for in-person instruction through the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year. Read the press release online.

For PCOE employees, this means that it is highly unlikely we will return to our “normal” work environment for a longer time than anticipated. Based on what we know now, plan to continue to work remotely and/or be off work for the foreseeable future.

PCOE Community Mitigation Measures

  • PCOE Employees will work remotely and/or be off work.

    • If sick (students and staff), stay home from work and other activities for seven days from the onset of symptoms or 72 hours after symptoms are gone, whichever is longer. Employees should self-screen (i.e., check themselves) for symptoms similar to the common cold such as sore throat, headache, fatigue, cough or fever each morning before interacting with co-workers, students or staff.

    • If you have traveled to any country identified by the CDC with a Level 3 travel restriction or higher, please monitor for symptoms for the next 14 days, and stay home if you have any cold-like symptoms. This will allow time for medical evaluations and to ensure the safety of everyone. 

    • Please follow PCOE procedures for notifying your supervisor and reporting your absence. Human Resources will send additional details regarding the use of sick time and other options soon.

  • Meetings, gatherings, professional development workshops and events where people would be in arm's length of one another will be moved to online platforms, postponed and/or cancelled.

  • All non-essential travel scheduled for the purpose of instruction (field trips) are cancelled. Travel for business continuity (professional development, meetings, conferences) outside of the county are cancelled. This is to ensure our teams are readily available to assist local school districts and respond to emerging issues in a timely manner.

  • PCOE facilities are closed to visitors with the exception of essential business such as district payroll pick up and deliveries in which social distancing practices will be implemented. If an employee must enter a PCOE facility, an ID badge may be requested to verify access.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their
employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.
These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. View additional information.

Managing Stress and Employee Mental Wellness

We know this can be a stressful time for you and your families. Changes to the way we work and to schools, cancellation of events and travel across our region, and the changing dynamics of COVID-19 in general. Please take care of your mental health. Be kind to one another. Check in on your friends and your co-workers.

  • We will be senidng weekly Health & Wellness email newsletters to all staff during this time. 
  • Take advantage of the Employee Assistance Program, which includes confidential emotional support, work-life solutions and online resources.
  • There are also a variety of options through the Placer County Network of Care.

 School Leaders

The following information is intended for school district administrators. 

In light of recent updates on COVID-19, public health officials have declared local public health emergency, which enables Placer County to access additional resources, necessary tools and mutual aid to keep the community safe.

Based on guidance from Placer County Health Officer Dr. Aimee Sisson, Placer County public schools and state preschool facilities will remain closed for in-person instruction through the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year. Read the full press release.

We remain diligent in our communication with local school districts, charter schools and private schools as well as Placer County Public Health professionals and the California Department of Education. We will be monitoring new developments and will continue to reevaluate our steps and actions. (If you are a school district superintendent, charter school operator or private school administrator and are not getting regular email udpates, please contact meklund@placercoe.org.)

For general questions about COVID-19 and precautions currently recommended by Placer County Public Health, residents may call the county's coronavirus information line at (530) 886-5310. Current information about the coronavirus is available at placer.ca.gov/coronavirus and on the CDC website.

Additional Resources for School District Personnel

Executive Orders from Governor Newsom

Statewide Guidance

Guidance from the California Department of Public Health

Resources from the California Department of Education

School Messaging Resources

 Childcare Providers

​The following information is intended for childcare providers.

Link to COVID-19 Stimulus Bill Updates and Business Resource for Early Childhood Programs​

Link to First Five Years Fund Website - Information Regarding SBA Loans Available to Child Care Providers​

Link to Small Business Association Website - Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources​ 

Link to ​List of California Essential Infrastructure  Workers 

Link to Grab, Adapt and Go - COVID-19 Resources for Child Care Programs​

Link to Child Care Law Center - Corona Virus Resource Page​ 

Link to Placer County COVID-19 Directive​

Link to ELCD Management Bulletin 20-04 Guidance on Apportionment, Attendance and Reporting Requirements​

Link to PIN 20-04-CCLD Governor's Proclamation of a State of Emergency to Address the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in California​

Link to PIN-20-04-CCP Statewide Waivers for Licensing Requirements Due to COVID-19 , and Prevention, Containment, and Mitigation Measures​

Link to PIN 20-05-CCLD Dedicated Link to Community Care Licensing Division E-Mail Address for COVID-19 Related Questions​

Link to Previous PINs on the CCLD website​

Link to Public Health Placer County​

Link to Stop the Spread of Germs Information Flyer​

Link to California Department of Public Health COVID-19 - Information on Guidance for a Child Care and Preschool Settin​g

 PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS)

 Current Power Event

At this time, there is not a PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) planned. Conditions may change and updates will be provided as we learn new information. We will continue to monitor the situation in partnership with the Placer County Health & Human Services department and the Placer County Office of Emergency Services.                                                      
The decision to operate schools during a PG&E PSPS is made at the local school district level. In many cases, school may continue as scheduled with additional contingency plans regarding safe food handling, hydration of students and modification of activities to ensure student safety.

 About

When gusty winds and dry conditions occur, combined with a heightened fire risk, PG&E may need to turn off power for public safety. This is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS).

The Placer County Office of Education (PCOE), in partnership with the Placer County Health & Human Services department and the Placer County Office of Emergency Services, works to ensure our school communities are informed and prepared for these potential power shutoffs.

View the potential outage map to find out if your service may be impacted by a PSPS.

PG&E has indicated it will provide notice 48-hours in advance of a planned PSPS when possible. During a PSPS, power will remain off until weather conditions improve and it is safe to restore service. Please note, outages could last for multiple days. For more information about how a PSPS works, visit the PG&E PSPS website. Information is available in multiple languages.

Power Outage Resources

We believe planning ahead is the best safeguard. PG&E offers many resources to help prepare your home, family and business for a potential PSPS.

  • Update your contact information directly with PG&E at pge.com/mywildfirealerts to receive alerts for potential power shutoffs.

  • Identify backup charging methods for phones and keep hard copies of emergency numbers.

  • Plan for any medical needs such as medication that needs refrigeration or devices that require power. View additional information about medical needs from PG&E.

  • Build or restock your emergency kits with flashlights, fresh batteries, first aid supplies and cash. Have enough nonperishable food and water stored to meet your basic needs for at least a few days.

 Families

The following information is intended for families of students enrolled in a PCOE school or program such as Pathways iCARE Charter or Court & Community Schools.

Please note, the decision to operate schools during a PG&E PSPS is made at the local school district level. In many cases, school may continue as scheduled with additional contingency plans regarding safe food handling, hydration of students and modification of activities to ensure student safety. Please contact your local school district for additional details.

In the event a planned PSPS may impact a PCOE student-based program site, you can expect an email, voicemail and text message from your school principal through our emergency all-call system called School Messenger. Updates will also be posted to this webpage during the power event.

Standard Communication Protocol

48-Hours Prior

Early notification that PCOE is aware of a potential PSPS. We will continue to monitor the situation. Unless otherwise notified, please plan for school to continue as scheduled.

24-Hours Prior

Additional updates regarding the potential PSPS. Unless otherwise notified, please plan for school to continue as scheduled. You will be notified no later than 5 p.m. if PCOE if planning to close school the next day.

During the PSPS

Daily updates will be provided until power is restored and school is back in session. Please also check back to this webpage we updates will be posted daily.

 PCOE Employees

The following information is intended for PCOE employees.  

In the event a planned PSPS may impact a PCOE site, you can expect an email, voicemail and text message from our emergency all-call system called School Messenger. Please ensure your emergency contact information is updated in EPIC. You can access EPIC through the “MyPCOE” portal online.

Standard Communication Protocol

48-Hours Prior

Early notification that PCOE is aware of a potential PSPS. We will continue to monitor the situation. Unless otherwise notified by your supervisor, please plan to report to work as scheduled.

24-Hours Prior

Additional updates regarding the potential PSPS. In many cases, school and business operations may continue as scheduled with additional contingency plans. Even during an extended power outage, some functions of business will continue and you may be expected to report to work. You will be notified no later than 5 p.m. if PCOE is planning to close a school or office location for the following day. Unless otherwise notified by your supervisor, please plan to report to work as scheduled. Conditions may change and updates will be provided as we learn new information.

During the PSPS

Daily updates will be provided until power is restored and school or business operations are back in session. PCOE staff at school-based locations should observe the school closure protocol of the school sites where they are located. Unless otherwise notified by your supervisor, please plan to report to work as scheduled. Conditions may change and updates will be provided as we learn new information. Updates will also be posted to this webpage during the power event.

PCOE employees affected by a power outage at home are expected to be prepared to attend work as regularly scheduled. All absences must be approved by a director supervisor and reported in the absence management system.

 School Leaders

The following information is intended for school district administrators. 

The decision to operate schools during a PG&E PSPS is made at the local school district level. It is difficult for PG&E to predict which areas will be impacted far in advance of a weather event, due to a range of variables including the direction of the wind, location of any fires, etc. For this reason, districts are encouraged to prepare both for a small-impact shutoff that may impact just one or two sites, as well as a worst-case scenario power shutoff that could potentially impact all their sites. 

In many cases, school may continue as scheduled with additional contingency plans regarding safe food handling, hydration of students and modification of activities to ensure student safety. The Placer County Office of Education is here to ensure you have the information and resources needed to make informed decisions for your communities.

In the event a planned PSPS may impact schools within Placer County, you can expect an email from PCOE’s Safety Officer.

48-Hours Prior

Early notification that PCOE is aware of a potential PSPS. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates.

24-Hours Prior

Additional updates regarding the potential PSPS. PCOE will schedule a Superintendent’s conference call to discuss details and answer questions. PCOE will work to ensure data systems for districts remain operational.

During the PSPS

Daily updates and conference calls will be provided until power is restored.

Additional Resources for School District Personnel

 Lockdown Safety Video

Active-Shooter-Safety-Video

This video provides valuable information to allow you to understand how your school District has planned for emergencies and how you can be better prepared to understand your role.​ Unfortunately, violent acts such as school shootings are a real possibility.  While the topic is unpleasant, these kinds of plans are important for you to know what's expected of you during a critical incident and what you can expect from the Placer County Sheriff's office.​​

 FAQ's
 

WHO DO I CONTACT ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT COVID-19?

For general questions about COVID-19 and precautions currently recommended by Placer County Public Health, residents may call the county’s coronavirus information line at (530) 886-5310. Current information about the coronavirus is available at placer.ca.gov/coronavirus and on the CDC website.

HOW DO I FIND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 AT MY SCHOOL?

COVID-19 has caused some fear and anxiety in our school communities. However, all official information pertaining to your student and your school will come directly from your school district, charter school or private school. Contact your school for additional information.

ARE SCHOOLS SERVING MEALS DURING COVID-19 CLOSURES?

School districts are diligently working to ensure students have access to meals during school closures. View meal option information.

WHAT ARE THE DISTANCE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MY STUDENT ENROLLED IN A PCOE PROGRAM?

PCOE is launching distance learning resources for students enrolled in Pathways Charter School, iCARE, Court and COmmunity Schools and the Comeback Program.

WILL MY SCHOOL BE OPEN DURING A POWER OUTAGE?  

The decision to operate schools during a PG&E PSPS is made at the local school district level. In many cases, school may continue as scheduled with additional contingency plans regarding safe food handling, hydration of students and modification of activities to ensure student safety. Our What's My District App will assist you by matching your address to your district.  Once your district appears on the map below, you can find the district schools and contact information for school Board of Trustees, Administrative contact information, in addition to school district websites links. ​​

 Contact List

 Key Links

 Placer County #Together

​

Let's hear your words of encouragement, or messages of gratitude. Now is the time to remind everyone that we are in this #together.

Use this Google form to send a shout out to each other - and feel free to get creative!

 Quotations
​​
“Teaching is the essential profession, the one that makes all professions possible." 

 
― Dav​​id Haselkorn​​​