TVUSD Goes Above and Beyond to Help Students and Their Families

By Bella Quintanilla

    During this time of confusion and fright amidst the COVID-19 crisis, Temecula Valley Unified District (TVUSD) has made it a priority to continue to help their students and families learn while staying home and staying safe. The district has provided many resources and continues to update others on their plans and expectations through the final months of the school year.

    On March 18, the district sent an update stating that they would begin taking applications for families to pick up a device that would allow their child to continue their education through online distance learning. They have since been able to provide over 7,500 computer devices to students in need of them. District Board member, Mrs. Barbara Brosch, added that the district “is providing MiFi wireless devices to families upon request who do not have internet access at home.” She also explained that the district has online help desks in order to assist with log-in, device, and program issues. Since access to distance learning has been the district’s goal, this device distribution and assistance have been a huge help for those in need of it. It has allowed many students to receive an education while they are prevented from physically going to school.

    TVUSD was also able to set up a meal program for students to pick up a sack lunch/breakfast. They called this “Grab N Go Meals.” Students are able to go to any of the three locations between 12PM and 1PM to get a nonperishable meal for the day. Through this program, “TVUSD’s Nutritional Services Department is serving an average of 2,400 grab and go meals daily,” according to Brosch. Those working these drive-through stands are able to hand families sack-lunches from under a plastic barrier, allowing them to continue social distancing. 

    In order to support its staff, Brosch claimed that “TVUSD leadership continues to provide teachers with professional development and virtual training tools,” in order to support the continuation of distance learning. The counseling teams are also continuing to provide social-emotional services for students as well as college and career planning.

    Besides physical services, the district has also listed on its website many different resources that families can contact for further assistance, such as child care, internet access, phone services, and learning opportunities for children. According to Brosch, TVUSD is “also currently working with the Temecula Chamber of Commerce to create a resource page with information for families from our Temecula and surrounding area vendors that are offering free or reduced services” With this page, the district hopes that families can get any assistance they are in need of while staying healthy and practicing social distancing.

    With the many services that TVUSD has provided and will continue to provide, families throughout the district are able to give their children an education without the risk of compromising their health. These families are able to get meals throughout the week, receive devices, and reach out to other services for assistance. The district has truly put the families within Temecula before themselves and have been working hard to keep others happy and calm.