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AFT Recommendations (Dec 3)District Safety Committee Response (Dec 6)AFT's Response (Feb 3)Actions Requested (Feb 3)
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0. Per Board Policy 2.90, Chancellor provides an administrative procedures document, that includes: a definition of each in-person campus program, service and activity (in-person indoor class, indoor sporting game, indoor theater performance, etc.); definitions of each type of visitor to campus (guest, contractor, volunteer, student, employee, etc.); and corresponding details of which health and safety rules and practices are applicable to each (matrix).“The District Health and Safety Committee has reviewed this recommendation and was briefed by members that this request is currently being reviewed and discussed within the Chancellor’s office.”Administrative Policy came out in January, however it does not include corresponding details of which health and safety rules and practices are applicable to each campus group (matrix) as other colleges have provided. The Policy also includes provisions like on campus covid testing that are not available and have not been available since employees returned to work one month ago. Faculty request that corresponding details of which health and safety rules and practices are applicable to each group be provided as a matrix as part of the administrative procedures for BP 2.90.
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1. Require that face masks continue to be worn indoors by all people present on campus, regardless of their vaccination status OR any mask orders rescinded by San Mateo County or the state of California through the conclusion of the Spring 2022 semester.“District Health and Safety Committee has reviewed this recommendation and it was brought to Chancellor’s cabinet for discussion. The District continues to align with County criteria for indoor face covering requirements.”The question of why Skyline College can’t do more than aligning with what the County requires remains unanswered. 1. The Board of Trustees has not said Skyline College cannot enforce a mask mandate throughout the semester. 2. Employees ask, “Is it illegal for us to do more than the County requires?” Faculty request that the District Safety Committee provides a rationale for their decision not to mandate masking for the entire Spring semester unless the County does so as well.
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2. Provide enhanced reporting of positive Covid cases and transmissions on a publicly available online dashboard system that’s updated as soon as positive cases are known and includes location(s) of room(s) or indoor spaces where those exposure(s) took place.
“[The] Committee has reviewed this recommendation and it was discussed. This is being reviewed as part of a bargaining unit agreement process. Consistent with HIPAA and CalOSHA, the district already provides reporting of positive Covid cases and transmissions, including date, campus, incident type, exposure risk level to others and action taken on a publicly available online website (https://smccd.edu/return-to-campus/exposures-report.php) that’s updated as soon as the District COVID 19 Health Officer completes contact tracing.”The bargaining unit process did result in a Spring MOU that resolved "7E: The District will maintain a list of confirmed COVID-19 cases of employees and students where an exposure has occurred on District property; the list will be made accessible online … [and] include date(s), time frame (morning, afternoon, evening), campus(es), building(s), incident type, exposure risk level and action(s) taken by the District…It will be updated within 24 hrs of the confirmation of an on-site case. However, positive cases are NOT being reported as the MOU requires.
For most of January, the online Covid Exposures Report was 6 or more days behind.
Employees and students have gone without the promised information they need to weigh hefty decisions about their personal health and safety. 		Faculty demand that the Health Officer adhere to AFT's MOU and Cal Osha legal requirements by updating the online Covid Exposures Report within 24 hours or one business day of the confirmation of every on-site positive Covid case. That the District has been in violation for months is not just a legal breach, it's a serious breach of our trust and the transparency our District makes claim to.
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3. Reduce occupancy levels for classrooms and other indoor meeting spaces by 25% to prevent overcrowding and allow for social distancing. Allow that Employees may proactively encourage social (physical) distancing in those spaces at their discretion.“District Health and Safety Committee reviewed the recommendation and it was discussed. This is already being reviewed as part of a bargaining unit agreement process.”The District’s negotiators did not agree to bargain any reduction in class sizes, room occupancy levels, or propose other solutions to prevent overcrowding and allow for social distancing. While required Keenan Safe training repeatedly cites the importance of “physical distancing,” many faculty report that their classrooms are too crowded to do so -- with the likely result that more members of our community are becoming sick. This contradiction between the District’s training instructions and lack of rules or protocols for social distancing falls squarely within our committee charge to remedy.Faculty request that training personnel explain the contradiction in recommended physical distancing by Keenan Safe training and the lack of requested protocols and procedures to facilitate social distancing on the Skyline College campus. Faculty request a transparent process for employees to request larger classrooms or workspaces that can accomodate social distancing. Faculty request social distancing signage in every classroom and other places where students gather in groups indoors.
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4. Provide additional SMCCD campus signage including questions about symptoms (“do you feel sick”?) and information about where to obtain masks during evening and weekend hours.“[The] Committee has reviewed this recommendation and reported there is already significant signage existing on the entry of each door for every building on the three campuses. The District will re-evaluate signage for possible language translations. It was recommended by The District Health and Safety Committee that the campus-specific Health and Safety Committee representatives should report gaps of signage found on their specific campus to their respective Health and Safety Committees.”Symptoms signage was created during the break as recommended.Faculty request that gaps in signage that have been noted be addressed. These include a lack of signage about recommended hygiene practices in every bathroom, and signage about where to obtain the more effective KN95 masks including during weekends and evenings and signage for social distancing.
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5. Create a District-wide health screener/pass system, consistent with other regional CCCs, for use by all types of visitors to our campuses. The system should ensure that employees have access in real time to information about the vaccination status of visitors. Links to examples of screening processes employed by Regional CCCs is provided by Reference Document 1."District Health and Safety Committee has reviewed this recommendation and it was determined the district will not set any system in place that can become a barrier for access to our public campuses. The scope of this system as presented would not be viable, cost-effective or enforceable given the district’s current infrastructure and policy."As a result, our students have been negatively impacted, as they go from service to service to be asked the same screening questions and have their attestation status checked over and over. This is burdensome on the student and on the staff who are checking. It puts staff in an uncomfortable position to be checking the status and asking if the student has self-screened (rather than a student showing a pass). Screening has been considered viable at other local community colleges that are also open to the public. Faculty request that the District Safety Committee estimate the cost of instituting a screening app. and research information about availability of federal funds for such. Allow for a Committee discussion about how illness prevention is weighed against "cost-effectiveness" by the District Safety Committee or our public health experts. Invite a representative from a local college to explain how they acquired a screening system.
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6. Provide up-to-date information about ventilation and filtration features operational in each indoor room or area where people work or gather on each SMCCD campus."District Health and Safety Committee reviewed recommendation and it was determined the buildings, along with the HVAC building management system, does not have the infrastructure to support the considerable scope of this recommendation at this time. The District Facilities team, inclusive of multiple HVAC experts, and qualified field personnel, has extensively reviewed air filtration and ventilation requirements and provisions. The District is committed to continuously improving and taking action to ensure the safety and performance of staff, faculty, students, and other building users. SMCCCD Facilities Planning, Maintenance and Operations Division provides indoor air quality that is, at least, in compliance with OSHA, CDC and other stringent regulations and industry standards. Further measures to ensure air quality and mitigate potential risks of COVID 19 and other airborne viruses will be taken in accordance with the appropriate guidelines, industry standards, and regulatory requirements."The chart that was requested was compiled by the District and shared publically.Faculty request that the District provide the link to the chart which shows filtration in each room on the Covid Recovery website on the District's Workplace Assessment page. It's currently available on a second District sustainability website. (Update: The chart is here but it's misnamed: "HVAC System Best Practices and COVID Responses")
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7. Provide HEPA filtration devices for use in classrooms, windowless spaces, and spaces where employees meet with students, to any employee who has requested such and within 3-5 business days of their request. Employees may request and receive devices directly through Facilities without a dean or manager’s advance permission."District Health and Safety Committee reviewed recommendation. Currently employees can request devices through the COVID 19 Workplace Safety Assessment process: https://smccd.edu/return-to-campus/docs/SOP%20-%20COVID-19%20Workplace%20Safety%20Assessment.pdf . Approval process and how quickly devices can be provided are already being reviewed as part of a bargaining unit agreement process."The bargaining process did not review or determine how quickly a device can be provided. See 7D of AFT’s Spring MOU. The current request process continues to require a supervisor’s approval which this committee voted to recommend eliminating. Employees continue to request and report that they do not receive the filtration they need to feel safe unlike their colleagues and relatives at nearby cc's.Faculty request that the District Safety Committee revisit this Committee's approved recommendation to eliminate the supervisor approval process for employees who request a portable filtration advice. Survey employees to determine their need for portable filtration devices. Establish a timeline for procurement of 3-5 days as previously recommended. Foothill College, De Anza College and College of Marin all provide air purifiers for every classroom and work space upon demand - if this is not viable, the Committee must know the cost and rationale. We are all aware that our District has a reserve of funds for emergencies. California is in a state of emergency.
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