[Factc] Fw: COVID-19 Update for May 10, 2020

Tue May 12 09:42:41 PDT 2020

FYI

Bill Moore, Ph.D. (he/his)
Director, K-12 Partnerships & Bridge to College
State Board for Community & Technical Colleges
360-704-4346 (office)            360-528-1809 (cell)

COVID-19 REMOTE LEARNING RESOURCES – AVAILABLE HERE<https://www.sbctc.edu/colleges-staff/programs-services/student-success-center/remote-learning-resources.aspx>
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Subject: COVID-19 Update for May 10, 2020

These updates are sent on Wednesdays and Fridays, to better align with the WACTC calls on those days.  If you have questions, however, please feel free to call John Boesenberg or any other State Board staff member who could best respond.

The information listed below has come-up since Thursday’s message was sent.  It will be shared with the WACTC Commissions.  Additional information/details may be accessed through our Google Drive at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PnHhItWpvNhUhhxrCq5LSzxjenmVS5nw

·       General Information

  *   Bypassing state laws through emergency proclamations requires agreement from the “4-corners” of the legislature.  Yesterday, Gov. Jay Inslee issued a statement in response to the refusal<https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2020%20covid%20extension%20letter%20%237.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery>  to extend emergency protection for domestic violence victims.  Without agreement from the leaders of the four legislative caucuses, the emergency proclamation (Proclamation 20-45<https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/proclamations/20-45%20COVID-19%20Protection%20Orders%20and%20Personal%20Service%20.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery>) will expire tomorrow, May 10.

  *   Governor Inslee released additional guidance on Friday for businesses and services under Safe Start Phase 1, including the ability for retail outlets to provide curbside service, pet walking and landscaping. More information can be found at the Governor's website.<https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-releases-additional-safe-start-phase-1-guidance-896e17495fdf>

  *   State Board staff sent a message to college presidents on Friday morning asking for the name and contact information for each college’s planning lead for returning to campus.  The State Board will create a listserv for those individuals, so they can communicate directly with one another and share resources and plans.

  *   State Board staff is working with the Governor’s Office to confirm their interest in supporting CTCs providing contact tracing training.  During the WACTC call it was also agreed that such training will be useful to colleges and businesses as they resume in-person operations and into the foreseeable future.
     *   The Ballmer Group may be interested in this effort and provide a grant to develop the curriculum.
     *   LWTech and Cascadia are partnering to develop a 3-hour on-line course.
     *   Many CTCs across the State are in discussions with the Department of Health and National Guard to develop an MOU that provides for the use of college facilities for phone banks supporting the state’s contact tracing efforts.  It’s estimated that this will bring 20 – 30 contact tracers to campuses.  Ensuring social distancing and cleaning protocols will likely be included in any MOU resulting from these discussions.

  *   At this time, the Governor has not specifically addressed higher education in his phased re-opening plans.  A group of higher education leaders, including representatives from the public and private universities, for-profit career schools and CTCs,  met last week to develop a letter to the Governor that communicates higher education’s role in economic recovery and how the various programs align with his phased reopening plan.  At this time, focus is on drafting principles/talking points that would be included in the letter.  It’s possible that information on specific issues and cleaning protocols would be included in appendices to the letter.

  *   Cleaning protocols that should be followed if a college is notified that an employee or student is showing symptoms or received a positive COVID-19 test results were included in the safety protocols provided last week (related to re-opening of certain hand-on, equipment intensive courses).  Essentially, facilities in which the employee/student worked should be cleaned.

·      Operating and Capital Budget
o   Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) and Susan Brooks (R-IN) are circulating a bipartisan “dear colleague” letter<https://www.aau.edu/sites/default/files/AAU-Files/Key-Issues/COVID-19/Support-College-Students-and-Institutions-of-Higher-Education-During-COVID.pdf> to urge House leaders to provide relief for students and colleges and universities in upcoming COVID-19 response legislation. The representatives say this legislation is critical to “ensure that students are not priced out of higher education that will be essential for workforce development, and to ensure that colleges and universities remain stable engines of economic growth.”  If passed, this could result in about $47 billion for colleges and universities.

·       Instruction/Student Services

  *   K12 plans for fall.  At this time OSPI’s  focus is on addressing graduation requirements for this year.  Next week a work group, that includes CTC representation, will meet to discuss plans for the fall.  Although decisions have already been made regarding summer 2020, the discussion will likely include impacts of that decision.  An update will be provided at next Friday’s WACTC call.

·      Issues being worked

o   Summer Running Start – Essentially, there is agreement on policies however, there continues to be discussion on funding.  State Board staff continues to work with OSPI and will provide an update on Friday’s WACTC call.

o   Re-opening of Dental Hygiene programs and clinics.  May 18th is the date identified by the Governor as the date dental offices may re-open.  It is unclear if that date is still his intended re-opening date and how that affects dental programs and clinics operated by our colleges.

·      Upcoming Event Cancellations/Changes (Newly Added/Updated in RED)

     *   Faculty of Color Mentorship Program spring retreat (May 15) has been cancelled.
     *   Workforce Connections Forum, scheduled for May 18-19th, has been rescheduled to August 25-26th.
     *   Spring CEDD Corrections Education Deans and Directors quarterly meeting is moved to a virtual meeting on Zoom  It starts at 9:00 AM  to 4:00 PM on May 19, 2020 and 9:00 AM – Noon on May 20, 2020.
     *   PIC has changed its meeting from May 14 and 15 at Lake Washington to May 14 via Zoom.
     *   Rendezvous 2020, July 27-29 – Cancelled
     *   Information Technology Commission has shifted from May 14-15 at Clark to May 14 via Zoom

John Boesenberg, Deputy Executive Director
Business Operations
360-704-4303; jboesenberg at sbctc.edu<mailto:jboesenberg at sbctc.edu>

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