Vine Hill Elementary School

Happy New Year, Scotts Valley Community!

Well, we have been back in session for our first week of 2021 with online instruction, and all has gone reasonably well. I have received some questions about the Governor’s latest proposal as well as the district’s intent to return to hybrid instruction and I want to address those items. 

First, we are not returning to in-person hybrid instruction in the immediate future. As a reminder, we have agreements with our teachers for full distance instruction, small group in-person support, and in-person hybrid instruction. I announced in December that we would not return to in-person instruction until Santa Cruz County had been in the red tier for three consecutive weeks. We want to ensure that we are fully prepared when we are able to move to in-person hybrid instruction, so we will be transitioning elementary students to the new schedules beginning January 19th. Site administrators will continue to communicate with you about this transition. 

On December 30, Governor Newsom provided new proposals specific to returning students in grades TK - 2 initially and then grades 3 - 6 depending on the elementary configurations. We are still unpacking the language proposal of the Governor as to what it requires and what it entails. In the meantime, we will continue with our online instruction and return to small group in-person support soon. Until further notice or legislative change, Scotts Valley Unified School District has plans to return to in-person hybrid instruction after three consecutive weeks into the red tier. The Governor’s new proposal considers waivers for the elementary grade levels and Santa Cruz County Superintendents are looking into the specifics of this proposal. Linked here is the Santa Cruz County Superintendent’s letter.

I know there are a lot of emotions, opinions, and varied feelings about the topic of returning students and staff to a modified in-person instructional model. I am receiving arguments from all sides. We are attempting to provide the options being requested within our resource and facility abilities. Although I understand that not everyone is in agreement with the options we are offering, I believe it is important to do our best to honor the requests of our community and our staff and keep the focus on the various needs of the students.

We plan to stay consistent with what we announced in December, and we will continue to monitor the status of Santa Cruz County and make changes based on that status.  It is my understanding that in the very near future we will be hearing about the likelihood of an extension to the stay at home order for the Bay Area which includes Santa Cruz County.  

On a happier note, we are very proud of our SVUSD Chamber of Commerce Award winners this year:  

Man of The Year, Mr. Michael Hanson, SVHS Principal

Educator of the Year, Erik Wyner, SVHS Teacher

Youth of the Year, Anika Mistry, SVHS Senior

Please stay safe and take care out there,

Tanya Krause

SVUSD Superintendent

This letter is being sent on behalf of all of the Superintendents in Santa Cruz County:  SC County Superintendents' Letter 1/7/2021