Santa Barbara Unified hears final pandemic update

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Santa Barbara Unified School District Board heard its 40th COVID-19 update, and Chief Operating Officer Steve Venz said its the last pandemic update.

Venz said it is now in the endemic stage and that updates will be as needed. He said the district will still work with the state and Santa Barbara County Public Health and monitor cases.

"Now we are going from pandemic into more of an endemic more of a regular routine," said Venz ,"We will just continue to monitor and make sure we are doing things safely."

The superintend said there were three more racist name calling incidents after a dozen reported last monitor cases.

Board members wearing green ribbons unanimously passed a resolution in support of May being Mental Health Awareness Month.

During COVID and the return to in-person learning many students suffered from mental health problems.

Board members want to ensure that students have access to help.

Sometimes COVID measures sparking heated public comments, on this night a majority of the of the comments came to parents concerned about the at-home use of school issues iPads.

One parent compared overuse to addiction another worried about "tech creep" and its impact on her son's behavior.

Technology creep occurs when technology takes up more time in an unproductive behavior.

Dawson Kelly said he apprecates the passion of the pubic comments he had heard during the school year.

He is also glad another student will take his place next school year to ensure students have a voice.

"Knowing how our system of education works better, and actually influencing the things that impact my education directly and my peers' education directly has been an invaluable experience."

For a link to the recorded board meeting visit www.sbunified.org.

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