This message was sent via email to Foothill-De Anza district employees by Chancellor Judy Miner
Sept. 23, 2022
URGENT: Masking and COVID Testing Update Effective Sept. 26, 2022
Dear Colleagues,
First, let me say that it was an absolute joy to have a chance to talk with so many of you during the opening day activities on both campuses!
I understand from some of these discussions that you have questions about the district’s masking policy and whether it is being universally applied. I also heard that there is an intense interest in moving from our strict requirement of wearing masks in classrooms and public-facing offices to the more lenient Santa Clara County guidelines, which recommend, but do not require, face coverings indoors.
Members of Chancellor’s Cabinet and some constituent group leaders also reported that participants in Thursday’s division and department meetings expressed a strong desire to make indoor masking optional effective September 26.
Our earlier decision to proceed with an abundance of caution appears to be out of sync with a more general consensus that we follow the Santa Clara County guidelines. While we appreciate that individuals may still have concerns, given the urgency of timing, I am advising you that as of September 26, 2022, indoor masking will be optional. It is critical to note that a faculty member or manager may still choose to require face coverings in their respective classrooms or public-facing offices if they feel there is a particular need to do so.
Additionally, as has been recommended by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health, we will no longer require testing for unvaccinated individuals before they come on campus. Our testing requirements for individuals who have contracted the COVID-19 virus remain the same.
Finally, those of you who attended District Opening Day had a chance to watch the premiere of the first in a series of new career technical education videos produced by AMF Media and the Foothill-De Anza Foundation with state grant funding. I guarantee that you will find all five videos fabulous, inspiring, and worth watching and sharing. Click HERE for a link to the playlist.
With best wishes for the new academic year,
Judy