Novato Jan La Torre-Derby, Ed.D*

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school districts should convene a countywide Lost Learning Task Force to rapidly develop lost learning recovery models that are available for implementation by all of Marin's public school districts. Response: This recommendation has not yet been implemented but will be implemented in the future. There are currently multiple existing groups and structures in place that have been in place before the pandemic and have developed and implemented plans for learning loss mitigation to some degree throughout the pandemic, with the clear understanding that remote learning is not effective or accessible for many students. The Marin County Superintendent of Schools convenes a monthly meeting of Marin County School District Superintendents to coordinate efforts and share best practices for supporting student learning and success. The frequency of these meetings was increased to weekly through a majority of the pandemic, including regular participation of the Marin County Public Health Office and/or Deputy Public Health Officer. A central priority of the Superintendents group through the past two years is to share best practices to address learning loss, and to implement robust student and staff mental health and wellness supports. All Marin County school districts applied for and were recipients of Learning Loss Mitigation Funding (LLMF) to support pupil academic achievement and mitigate learning loss related to COVID-19 school closures. As such, all school districts were required to create learning continuity and attendance plans, which have been adopted and submitted to the California Department of Education. Engage. Inspire. Empower. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Maria Aguila, Debbie Butler, Diane Gasson, Julie Jacobson, Derek Knell, Greg Mack, Ross Millerick www.NUSD.org Page | 4 Novato Unified School District Response to the Marin County Grand Jury Report "Marin Schools: A Prescription for COVID Recovery" The Novato Unified School District's Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan was approved by the Board of Trustees on October 5, 2021, submitted to the California Department of Education, and implemented as planned.

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By August 1, 2022, the Marin County Superintendent of Schools and all Marin public school districts should also call on the Lost Learning Task Force, as a second but vital priority, to develop and recommend protocols and policies for minimizing the length of emergency school closures during future disruptions. Response: This recommendation has been implemented. This recommendation has been implemented, although not in the name of a Lost Learning Task Force. There is recognition that this work is ongoing. Prior to COVID there was strong consensus among all Marin County Public School leaders that continuity of school operations and in person learning is a critical priority. Tools to support this priority through recent experiences with wildfire, air quality and winter storms have been developed in collaboration with Marin County Public Health and the Office of Emergency Services. Tools include an air quality chart that identifies appropriate indoor and outdoor activities at school to support health and safety depending on changing air quality indicators, systems of communication and planning for potential closures, and many districts taking the step of adding additional potential instructional days (like snow days in the mountainous areas) in the event of a closure. When the first shelter in place and suspension of classroom activity was ordered in the Spring of 2020, immediate steps were taken in conjunction with Public Health to develop protocols and procedures for a safe return to site-based classroom instruction, resulting in the development of the Marin County School Guidelines (30 Point Plan) first issued June 18, 2020. With the fundamental goal of keeping students in site-based classroom instruction these guidelines have been revised and updated eleven times through May 3, 2022, including an update to a 32 Point Plan on August 18, 2021, and more recently an update to the Marin County SMARTER Schools Plan on March 24, 2022. Public Health is currently working with all Marin County public, private, independent and parochial schools in planning for the 2022-23 school year including the development of a COVID mitigation strategies chart, similar to the air quality chart, to help schools continue implement best-practices and procedures aligned with changing COVID-19 transmission levels and risks due to future variants and uncertainties, with the central and agreed upon priority of keeping students in site based classroom instructions. This work is ongoing. Sincerely, Thank you for your continued attention and support of our public schools and the health and wellness of our county's young people. Jan La Torre-Derby, Ed.D. President, NUSD Board of Education Superintendent Engage. Inspire. Empower. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Maria Agulla, Debbie Butler, Diane Gasson, Julie Jacobson, Derek Knell, Greg Mack, Ross Millerick www.NUSD.org ي . سنج Response to Grand Jury Report Report Title: Marin Schools: A Prescription for COVID Recovery Respondent/Agency Name: Novato Unified School District Your Name: Jan La Torre-Derby Title: Superintendent