[Wsssc] FW: COVID-19 Update for May 20, 2020

Wed May 20 15:47:00 PDT 2020

Colleagues: here is the first of two SBCTC updates this week on COVID-19 response.
From: John Boesenberg
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 2:25 PM
To: Amit Singh (amit.singh at edcc.edu<mailto:amit.singh at edcc.edu>) <amit.singh at edcc.edu<mailto:amit.singh at edcc.edu>>; Amy Morrison (amy.morrison at lwtech.edu<mailto:amy.morrison at lwtech.edu>) <amy.morrison at lwtech.edu<mailto:amy.morrison at lwtech.edu>>; Arlen Harris <aharris at sbctc.edu<mailto:aharris at sbctc.edu>>; Beth Gordon <bgordon at sbctc.edu<mailto:bgordon at sbctc.edu>>; Bob Mohrbacher - Centralia (bob.mohrbacher at centralia.edu<mailto:bob.mohrbacher at centralia.edu>) <bob.mohrbacher at centralia.edu<mailto:bob.mohrbacher at centralia.edu>>; Carli Schiffner <cschiffner at sbctc.edu<mailto:cschiffner at sbctc.edu>>; Chad Hickox (chad.hickox at wwcc.edu<mailto:chad.hickox at wwcc.edu>) <chad.hickox at wwcc.edu<mailto:chad.hickox at wwcc.edu>>; Cherie Berthon <cberthon at sbctc.edu<mailto:cberthon at sbctc.edu>>; Cheryl Roberts <cheryl.roberts at shoreline.edu<mailto:cheryl.roberts at shoreline.edu>>; Chris Bailey (cbailey at lowercolumbia.edu<mailto:cbailey at lowercolumbia.edu>) <cbailey at lowercolumbia.edu<mailto:cbailey at lowercolumbia.edu>>; Christine Johnson (christine.johnson at ccs.spokane.edu<mailto:christine.johnson at ccs.spokane.edu>) <christine.johnson at ccs.spokane.edu<mailto:christine.johnson at ccs.spokane.edu>>; Daria Willis (dwillis at everettcc.edu<mailto:dwillis at everettcc.edu>) <dwillis at everettcc.edu<mailto:dwillis at everettcc.edu>>; Darrell Cain - Pierce Puyallup (dcain at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:dcain at pierce.ctc.edu>) <dcain at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:dcain at pierce.ctc.edu>>; Eric Murray (emurray at cascadia.edu<mailto:emurray at cascadia.edu>) <emurray at cascadia.edu<mailto:emurray at cascadia.edu>>; Grant Rodeheaver <grodeheaver at sbctc.edu<mailto:grodeheaver at sbctc.edu>>; Jan Yoshiwara <jyoshiwara at sbctc.edu<mailto:jyoshiwara at sbctc.edu>>; Jim Minkler (jim.minkler at ghc.edu<mailto:jim.minkler at ghc.edu>) <jim.minkler at ghc.edu<mailto:jim.minkler at ghc.edu>>; Jim Richardson (jrichardson at wvc.edu<mailto:jrichardson at wvc.edu>) <Jrichardson at wvc.edu<mailto:Jrichardson at wvc.edu>>; John Boesenberg <jboesenberg at sbctc.edu<mailto:jboesenberg at sbctc.edu>>; John Mosby (jmosby at highline.edu<mailto:jmosby at highline.edu>) <jmosby at highline.edu<mailto:jmosby at highline.edu>>; Joyce Loveday (joyce.loveday at cptc.edu<mailto:joyce.loveday at cptc.edu>) <joyce.loveday at cptc.edu<mailto:joyce.loveday at cptc.edu>>; Julie Walter <jwalter at sbctc.edu<mailto:jwalter at sbctc.edu>>; Julie White - Pierce College Fort Steilacoom (juwhite at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:juwhite at pierce.ctc.edu>) <juwhite at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:juwhite at pierce.ctc.edu>>; Kathi Hiyane-Brown (khiyane-brown at whatcom.edu<mailto:khiyane-brown at whatcom.edu>) <khiyane-brown at whatcom.edu<mailto:khiyane-brown at whatcom.edu>>; Kevin Brockbank (Kevin.brockbank at scc.spokane.edu<mailto:Kevin.brockbank at scc.spokane.edu>) <Kevin.brockbank at scc.spokane.edu<mailto:Kevin.brockbank at scc.spokane.edu>>; Kevin McCarthy (kmccarthy at rtc.edu<mailto:kmccarthy at rtc.edu>) <kmccarthy at rtc.edu<mailto:kmccarthy at rtc.edu>>; Kim Perry - Bellingham Tech (kperry at btc.edu<mailto:kperry at btc.edu>) <kperry at btc.edu<mailto:kperry at btc.edu>>; Kim Tanaka <ktanaka at sbctc.edu<mailto:ktanaka at sbctc.edu>>; Kimberlee Messina (Kimberlee.Messina at sfcc.spokane.edu<mailto:Kimberlee.Messina at sfcc.spokane.edu>) <Kimberlee.Messina at sfcc.spokane.edu<mailto:Kimberlee.Messina at sfcc.spokane.edu>>; Kristen Jones (kristen.jones at bellevuecolleg.edu<mailto:kristen.jones at bellevuecolleg.edu>) <kristen.jones at bellevuecollege.edu<mailto:kristen.jones at bellevuecollege.edu>>; Kurt Buttleman (kurt.buttleman at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:kurt.buttleman at seattlecolleges.edu>) <Kurt.Buttleman at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:Kurt.Buttleman at seattlecolleges.edu>>; Laura McDowell <lmcdowell at sbctc.edu<mailto:lmcdowell at sbctc.edu>>; Lin Zhou - Bates (lzhou at batestech.edu<mailto:lzhou at batestech.edu>) <lzhou at batestech.edu<mailto:lzhou at batestech.edu>>; Linda Kaminski <lkaminski at yvcc.edu<mailto:lkaminski at yvcc.edu>>; Luke Robins (lrobins at pencol.edu<mailto:lrobins at pencol.edu>) <lrobins at pencol.edu<mailto:lrobins at pencol.edu>>; Marty Cavalluzzi - Olympic <mcavalluzzi at olympic.edu<mailto:mcavalluzzi at olympic.edu>>; Michele Johnson <mjohnson at pierce.ctc.edu<mailto:mjohnson at pierce.ctc.edu>>; Rebekah Woods (rwoods at columbiabasin.edu<mailto:rwoods at columbiabasin.edu>) <rwoods at columbiabasin.edu<mailto:rwoods at columbiabasin.edu>>; Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap - South Seattle (Rosie.Rimando at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:Rosie.Rimando at seattlecolleges.edu>) <Rosie.Rimando at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:Rosie.Rimando at seattlecolleges.edu>>; Sandra Fowler-Hill (sfowler-hill at clark.edu<mailto:sfowler-hill at clark.edu>) <sfowler-hill at clark.edu<mailto:sfowler-hill at clark.edu>>; Sheila Edwards Lange - Seattle Central (Sheila.EdwardsLange at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:Sheila.EdwardsLange at seattlecolleges.edu>) <Sheila.EdwardsLange at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:Sheila.EdwardsLange at seattlecolleges.edu>>; Shouan Pan (shouan.pan at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:shouan.pan at seattlecolleges.edu>) <shouan.pan at seattlecolleges.edu<mailto:shouan.pan at seattlecolleges.edu>>; Suzanne Johnson (sjohnson at greenriver.edu<mailto:sjohnson at greenriver.edu>) <sjohnson at greenriver.edu<mailto:sjohnson at greenriver.edu>>; Terry Leas (terryl at bigbend.edu<mailto:terryl at bigbend.edu>) <terryl at bigbend.edu<mailto:terryl at bigbend.edu>>; Tim Stokes (tstokes at spscc.edu<mailto:tstokes at spscc.edu>) <tstokes at spscc.edu<mailto:tstokes at spscc.edu>>; Tom Keegan (thomas.keegan at skagit.edu<mailto:thomas.keegan at skagit.edu>) <thomas.keegan at skagit.edu<mailto:thomas.keegan at skagit.edu>>; Wayne Doty <wdoty at sbctc.edu<mailto:wdoty at sbctc.edu>>
Subject: COVID-19 Update for May 20, 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 the last 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

  *   Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit and a preliminary injunction challenging the Department of Education's administration the CARES Act funding.  You can access a press  release at https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-challenges-department-education-decision-blocking-coronavirus-aid

  *   Governor Inslee made a number of announcements in the last few days.  Potentially relevant to CTC include:

     *   Guidance on July 19 for resuming physical fitness operations in Phase 2. Through this link, you can access a full list of guidance for all current businesses<https://www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/covid-19-resources/covid-19-reopening-guidance-businesses-and-workers?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery>.
     *   Announced new criteria<https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/instructions_for_county_COVID-19_variance_May_19_2020%20%28003%29.pdf> for additional counties to apply for variances to move to Phase 2 of the state's Safe Start<https://medium.com/wagovernor/inslee-signs-new-covid-19-order-for-phased-re-opening-of-washingtons-economy-ad5ea919ab56> recovery plan. Under the plan, smaller counties can apply for a variance<https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/application_for_county_COVID-19_variance_May_19_2020.pdf> from the order which would allow them to open even more businesses than allowed statewide. Counties are now eligible to apply if they have less than 10 new cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day span.  You can access a map showing Washington counties and their status at WA Counties and Phase 2<https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-announces-expanded-county-variance-criteria-and-working-wa-small-business-grants>.

*      Operating and Capital Budget
o   Through the 15% budget reduction exercise launched last week by OFM, colleges are being asked to show impacts of such reductions on students and their operations.  It will be important to illustrate the impacts on students and our core mission areas of such a reduction.

*      Employment

  *   The number of Unemployment Insurance fraud cases amongst CTC employees continues to grow.
     *   One suggested approach is to open an account (without filing a claim) with ESD.  This blocks a fraudster from creating an account and claim in your name.  Without explanation, however, ESD has stated that they "feel that is not the best option for individuals to take."
     *   The general advice provided by ESD includes:

*       Immediately contact ESD at: https://esd.wa.gov/unemployment/unemployment-benefits-fraud.

*       The Washington State Attorney General's Office has resources for victims of identity theft, available here: https://www.atg.wa.gov/recovering-identity-theft-or-fraud.  Identity theft is a felony.  It's recommended that you  report the crime to the police or sheriff's department in the area where you live.

*       Check your bank statements and credit accounts on a regular basis to monitor all activity in these accounts.  You can also put fraud alerts and security freezes on your accounts.

*       Monitor your mail as well, even what might appear to be junk mail, in case bank or credit accounts are opened in your name. Some employees have received cards in the mail from Green Dot Bank or Walmart Money Card that accounts have been opened in their names.  There may be others.  This may indicate a pattern of accounts being created to allow direct deposit of government benefits from the fraudulent claims.  If you get a strange envelope and find a card inside for  a new account, you need to call the company and connect with the fraud department.  The fraud department will inactivate the account and block your information so it cannot be used to open another account.  If you are subject to this further fraud, you may also want to file another police report to cover you in case this goes any further.

*       You should also contact the Federal Trade Commission to report identity theft(https://www.identitytheft.gov/), the Social Security Administration to flag your social security number for fraud monitoring, and one or more of the three primary credit reporting agencies.  The relevant contact information is below.

o   Equifax - https://www.equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services/; 800-685-1111

o   Experian - https://www.experian.com/help/ - 888-397-3742

o   TransUnion - https://www.transunion.com/credit-help; 888-909-8872

  *   Payroll employment plummets, unemployment rate soars.  Washington's economy lost 527,000 jobs in April and the state's preliminary seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate for April increased according to the Employment Security Department (ESD).

Month

Total Job losses

Unemployment rate

2019 Unemployment Rate

March 2020

25,400

5.1 percent

4.5 percent

April 2020

527,000

15.4 percent

4.4 percent

These losses are likely to continue into May, with a shift coming the other direction as our economy gradually re-opens. The national unemployment rate (preliminary) rose from 4.4 percent in March 2020 to 14.7 percent in April 2020. In April 2019, the national unemployment rate (revised) was 3.6 percent.

Employment Security paid regular unemployment insurance benefits to 599,735 people in April, an increase of 414,277 over the previous month.

All thirteen industry sectors contracted in April

Private sector employment decreased by 498,500 and government employment decreased by 28,500. Provided below is a summary of the number of jobs lost in each industry sector.

    Industry sector                                       Job losses

Leisure and hospitality

177,700

Construction

  81,000

Education and health services

  66,700

Retail trade

  45,600

Professional and business services

  35,300

Other services

  31,200

Government

  28,500

Manufacturing

  27,500

Wholesale trade

  12,700

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

    9,500

Financial activities

    7,600

Information

    3,200

Mining and logging

       500

*       Instruction/Student Services
o   Graduation.  Several efforts are underway to recognize and celebrate student efforts to graduate this spring:
?  Senator Randall is pulling together a number of state luminaries for a video that recognize graduates.  This could be used by colleges in a variety of ways as a part of their virtual graduation celebrations.  A flyer on this effort will be distributed within the next few days.
?  Alaska Airlines is finalizing a 4-minute video message for graduating students that colleges can use as part of their recognition of students.  It includes Russell Wilson, Governor Inslee and other well-known state musicians and artists.  State Board will provide a link to the video when it becomes available.

o   K-12 fall re-opening. OSPI has pulled together a large number of stakeholders, including higher education, to discussion options/plans for re-opening in the fall.  Issued being discussed include:
?  A phased approach which
?  Hybrid approach for middle and high-schools.  Elementary schools may open as they have in the past, with safety protocols.
Next steps include smaller focus group discussion with the goal of releasing plans by mid-June.  More information and updates can be gained at OSPI Reopening Workgroup<OSPI%20Reopening%20Workgroup>.

  *   Colleges shared information on taking temperatures of students that are attending labs on campus.  Ideas include using Allied Health faculty and trained employee volunteers to take temperatures as students enter the campus, requiring students to take their temperature at home prior to coming on campus and completing an affidavit. The Secretary of State issued a clarification on the applicability of the public records act to the "temperature" logs state agencies may be using to ensure a safe working environment.  See summary below:
     *   Using Records Retention Schedules: How Long Should COVID-19 Screening Records Be Retained?
        *   Purpose: Provide guidance to state and local agencies on the required retention for records of COVID-19 screenings administered to employees and visitors by the agency to ensure a safe working environment.
        *   In response to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many agencies have begun screening employees and visitors for signs of infection. The most common screening methods agencies have implemented are temperature tests and surveys asking about symptoms and potential exposures.  For the purposes of records retention, the function of these records is to ensure the safety of the workplace by preventing infected individuals from exposing others to the virus. Therefore these records should be retained in accordance with Entry/Exit Logs - Facilities (DAN GS 25007) on page 63 of the State Government General Records Retention Schedule (SGGRRS) v.6.0 (June 2016).  Retain for 6 years after end of fiscal year then destroy. (See https://www.sos.wa.gov/_assets/archives/recordsmanagement/state-government-general-records-retention-schedule-v.6.0-(june-2016).pdf

*       Issues being worked
o   A higher education re-opening planning group (public/private universities, private career schools, CTCs) continues to work to develop a letter to the Governor addressing various issues and concerns regarding fall quarter.  The group meets again on Thursday, May 21st and information will be shared with WACTC on Friday's call.

o   State Board and other higher education sectors will discuss with the Governor's Office a possible executive order providing immunity from lawsuits if someone contracts COVID while attending classes.

o   State Board staff will survey colleges to get an  update on fall quarter plans.

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 to identify a funding source.

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/Updates in RED)

     *   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.
     *   Rendezvous 2020, July 27-29 - Cancelled
     *   Information Technology Commission has shifted from May 14-15 at Clark to May 14 via Zoom.
     *   The WACTC Summer retreat will be entirely held through Zoom on July 27-28.

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

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