Chancellor Judy C. Miner sent the following message via email to Foothill-De Anza district employees.
June 18, 2020
Dear Colleagues,
Working together, we are successfully completing a truly unprecedented spring quarter and continue to navigate through one of the most tumultuous times ever. Thank you for everything you have done to help us move forward and let your loved ones know that we appreciate their support of you as this is definitely an extended family effort!
To help you plan, I want you to know that the colleges and district offices will remain closed at least through Labor Day, Sept. 7. This means we will continue working from home and that summer instruction and student services will continue remotely, as previously announced.
There will be extremely few exceptions to the work-from-home rule during this period, primarily involving police, grounds, custodial, and facilities staff who will work onsite on a very limited basis after training and with all safety precautions in place.
The decision to continue remote operations is driven by our desire to protect the health of students, faculty, and staff, particularly given the continuing lack of adequate availability of supplies and equipment needed for maximum safety. Santa Clara County Public Health has not yet cleared colleges and universities to re-open, and in California and across the nation, we are seeing resurgences in COVID-19 infections after re-opening.
I know that people also are eager to have answers about the possibility of onsite classes and services for the fall, and we are working on that. We do not currently have all the information we need to tell you with certainty the extent to which we can safely reopen at that time. To be prepared for the possible continuation of remote work, we are planning a virtual program for district and college opening days that could be modified if circumstances warrant.
Fortunately, your creativity, persistence, and teamwork during this transition have shown that we can get our work done remotely. People are working diligently and productively. With the opportunity to connect through Zoom and other online platforms, communication is probably at an all-time high, and that is a wonderful development that contributes to our success.
If you have additional needs to continue working remotely, please speak with your manager. We will do our best to accommodate you and will continue to schedule periodic opportunities to return to your worksite for essential equipment and supplies.
I am deeply grateful for all you have done and continue to do in support of student success.
As I write this, there is breaking news that the Supreme Court of the United States has blocked the attempts to end DACA. This follows the equally good news from the court on Monday that LGBTQ Americans are protected under the Civil Rights Act. May these decisions be a source of increased vigor and determination to prove that Black Lives Matter.
In solidarity,
Judy