Excellence in Action: Monterey County's Educational Response to Covid-19*

Educators and classified staff in Monterey County are to be commended for their initiative and flexibility in meeting the challenges of COVID-19. From the MCOE Superintendent to the newest part- time classroom aide, county educational employees went beyond their job descriptions in meeting the needs of students and their families during the pandemic. X AGREE ___ PARTIALLY AGREE DISAGREE Response: The Bradley Union School District and its Governing Board agree with this finding. The personnel of all school districts, charter schools, and the county office of education have made extraordinary efforts to meet the needs of our students, fellow staff members and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the hard work and dedication of our COVID response team, BUSD was able to continue full, in-person learning for the duration of the 2021-22 school year. Our district invested tremendous resources in ensuring our students, staff and families were able to remain in-person and enjoy cherished celebrations while following our local and state quidance and mandates.

Administrators, teachers, and information technology staff in Monterey County are to be commended for making great strides in providing remote learning devices and solving internet access problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. X AGREE PARTIALLY AGREE DISAGREE Response: The Bradley Union School District and its Governing Board agree with this finding. Administrators, teachers, and support staff in Monterey County are to be commended for making great strides in providing remote learning devices and solving some of the internet access problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bradley School utilized innovative solutions to solve the digital divide problems and are continuing to work toward long term solutions that hopefully in the future will close the digital divide, especially for those in our outlying areas who are not able to be served by traditional internet providers.

Despite a lack of preparedness at many levels of government, MCOE, school districts, and staff responded to the impact of the pandemic in a timely manner. X AGREE PARTIALLY AGREE DISAGREE Response: The Bradley Union School District and its Governing Board agree with this finding. MCOE, school districts, and staff worked diligently to respond appropriately and timely to each challenge the pandemic surfaced, including moving to remote learning in a matter of days and frequently adjusting to ever-changing guidance and mandates from state officials.

Monterey County successfully expanded internet connectivity due to the efforts of MCOE, industry partners, grant institutions, the Digital Task Force, and school district investment in technology. X AGREE PARTIALLY AGREE DISAGREE Response: The Bradley Union School District and its Governing Board agrees with this finding. MCOE worked with many partner agencies, granting institutions, vendors, technology experts, district superintendents, and elected officials to expand internet connectivity for students and families in need in many areas of the county. While additional efforts are needed to close the digital divide, the progress made during the pandemic is to be commended.

There is increased collaboration and coordination among agencies that provide services and support, including the MCOE, Monterey County Behavioral Health, the Monterey County Health Department, internet partners, school districts, support providers, and community groups. X AGREE PARTIALLY AGREE DISAGREE Response: The Bradley Union School District and its Governing Board agrees with this finding. The increased collaboration and coordination among agencies is greatly appreciated as it allows for more efficient response and better coordination of services and support.

Administrators, teachers, parents, and students are all extremely concerned about students' social-emotional issues arising from COVID-19. X AGREE PARTIALLY AGREE DISAGREE Response: The Bradley Union School District and its Governing Board agrees with this finding. Our district and site staff members, students and families have reported that they are seeing and experiencing many more behavioral challenges, as well as social and emotional health concerns over the last two years than in years past.

Administrators, teachers, parents, and students are concerned about the learning loss that took place during the 2020-2021 school year. There is an urgent need for mitigation of such a loss. X AGREE PARTIALLY AGREE DISAGREE Response: The Bradley Union School District and its Governing Board agrees with this finding that staff, parents/families, and students are concerned about the learning loss that took place during both the 2019-2020 and the 2020- 2021 school year and that there is an urgent need for additional support for students who fell behind academically.

There is the potential for significant fiscal disruption with the continuing loss of ADA and the end of additional federal funding occurring at the same time. X AGREE PARTIALLY AGREE DISAGREE Response: The Bradley Union School District and its Governing Board agrees with this finding. Like many districts throughout California, Bradley Union School District is experiencing declining enrollment and increased absenteeism. With federal COVID relief funds ending, our school district must eliminate some of the additional staffing and programming offerings instituted over the last two years to manage the pandemic.