“This is like a 650 square mile remote rural district, and a lot of families in this school district had to buy technology boosters for their phones, we had to make sure kids could get online for virtual learning,” Pierce said.
“We are kind of all in this boat that s rocking at the same time, and reaching out for one another, but trying to find an anchor to hold on to,” said Bonnie Hayman, a counselor for 30 years. She works at the La Mesa Arts Academy in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District.
“That’s where I see our role is to try to provide some stabilization in these times, knowing that there is so little we can promise and guarantee. It’s the sands are just shifting every day, Hayman said.
CARLSBAD
The Carlsbad City Council met in closed session Tuesday to discuss litigation. In open session, the council discussed the county health guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic and how to enforce them. The council agreed to reach out to other local, state and national organizations to find a way to increase compliance with the public health orders. The council approved additional steps including working with the business community to better understand barriers and finding ways to help businesses continue to operate; and working with volunteer groups to help compliance efforts. The council directed staff to find ways to reward businesses that are complying with the health orders. The council also approved changes that made more businesses eligible for COVID-19 business loan programs.
Southern California school districts plan reopenings despite dire spread of COVID-19
This week California has crossed yet another devastating threshold, reporting more than 3.12 million cases of COVID-19 and 35,701 deaths. The state has now reported more cases than Italy and Japan combined, with a multitude of cases that still remain unreported.
According to Bonnie Castillo, the executive director of the California Nurses Association, death rates have increased by more than 82 percent in California over the last two weeks. In the past seven days, the state averaged more than 41,000 new cases each day, a significant increase since the period before the winter holidays.
CARLSBAD
The Carlsbad City Council met Tuesday for a presentation on regional COVID-19 vaccination coordination. The council approved the Biotech and Beyond building as a regional point of distribution for vaccination and testing programs, coordinated by emergency services agencies. The council heard a presentation on the city’s Clean Energy Alliance power supply product offerings and agreed to offer several options, with the ability for customers to opt out and return to San Diego Gas & Electric if they preferred. Council member Keith Blackburn was approved as mayor pro tempore. Several appointments were approved: Jengi Martinez, Michael Luna and Michael Sebahar, Parks & Recreation Commission; Geoff Gray, Carlsbad Golf Lodging Business Improvement District Advisory Board.
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NOTE: City councils and school boards have closed their meeting spaces to the public to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Public participation is possible by phone links to the meetings, livestreaming meetings and/or emailing comments. Visit each agency’s website for details, usually found under “Meetings” or “Agendas.”
CITY COUNCILS
CARLSBAD
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DEL MAR
The Del Mar City Council will meet in special session at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday to accept comments from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. It will discuss how to collect the missing data, revise the draft Housing Element and produce a final Housing Element by April 15 to send to the department. The council canceled a closed session that was scheduled beforehand. The council will also review the product offerings from the Clean Energy Alliance. Mayor Terry Gaasterland and Councilmember Dan Quirk will request that the council discuss options for restarting the Utility Undergrounding P