This message was sent via email to Foothill-De Anza district employees by Chancellor Judy Miner
May 24, 2022
Indoor Masking Requirement Revisions to AP 3507
Dear Colleagues,
I was not present for the Chancellor’s Advisory Council meeting of May 20, 2022, but have been told that opinions were highly divided regarding the removal of our indoor masking requirement in the near future, and that I was asked to make a final decision.
In light of the surge in cases of the latest omicron variant, I am revising the following language of AP 3507 to reflect and continue our practice that began in Spring 2022:
Face coverings are required in all indoor settings except as specified in federal, state, and local public health agency guidelines indoors for classes and public-facing services. Face coverings are highly recommended and may be required by staff in outdoor settings where social distancing cannot be maintained. The district's requirements regarding face coverings will follow the guidelines of federal, state, and local public health agencies, which may be relaxed or strengthened from time to time. In the event that the directives of federal, state, and local governing public health agencies differ, the District will comply with the most stringent or restrictive mandate or practice.
Because commencement at both Foothill and De Anza will be outdoors, masking will be optional but highly recommended. This guidance applies to all the other end-of-year events that are planned for outdoor settings.
Indoor masking as described above continues to be required for Summer 2022. Concerns have been expressed that students should have been notified in the course schedule footnotes. While that would have been helpful, it would have been essential had we changed our administrative procedures which we have not done.
I also heard concerns that we say we are following the county directives, but the county is not requiring masking. Please note that I have added “or practice” to AP 3507 language to account for our following predominant practices of various organizations or businesses such as the performing arts, healthcare services, etc.
We deeply wish that we could predict when we would have more or better information to announce future changes in policies and procedures. At the moment, our one certainty is that there will be uncertainty. Thank you for your patience!
Looking forward to celebrating our students’ accomplishments,
Judy