Iâll never forget the day the sky turned orange over Burlingame Avenue. The air was full of ash from raging fires, and I needed bike lights to ride home safely at noon. I snapped a photo which has come to symbolize my year as mayor. While days were dark, uncharted, and difficult â in the background remained a glowing, irrepressible light.
This year, local governments in San Mateo County demonstrated we can solve problems. Our countyâs leadership team spearheaded an outstanding public health response and addressed economic fallout proactively and collaboratively. Cities also proved to be inspiring laboratories for innovation, and weâve become a more resilient community.
Backed by widespread support from teachers and parents, South San Francisco Unified School District officials unanimously agreed to continue with online learning until the health hazard posed by COVID-19 subsides.
The district Board of Trustees voted 5-0 during a meeting Thursday, Dec. 10, to limit those allowed on campuses to small groups needing academic support while planning to begin a staggered, wider return once San Mateo County moves to the orange tier for two weeks.
The decision followed a districtwide survey showing 2,275 of 3,270 respondents favoring continued reliance on remote learning â an overwhelming majority compared to the 759 who preferred returning to a hybrid learning model.