Update: 10/28/20 4:40 p.m. IUSD Instruction to Resume for All Academic Models
As of this afternoon, the Silverado Fire evacuation orders have been lifted for the city of Irvine and instruction will resume tomorrow (10/29) across all academic models as follows:
Middle and High School Academic Models (Includes K-8 students in grades 6-8)
Instruction will resume online for all middle and high school academic models Thursday (10/29) and Friday (10/30) with regular academic model schedules set to resume Monday (11/2).
Please note, middle and high school Special Education students, who are currently enrolled in Moderate/Severe and Autism specific programs will attend in person on Thursday (10/29) and Friday (10/30).
Elementary School Academic Models (Includes K-8 students grades TK-5)
All elementary academic models will resume regularly scheduled instruction.
IVA
Irvine Virtual Academy students will resume regularly scheduled instruction.
The Irvine Adult Transition Program and the Early Childhood Education Center
IATP and ECLC will resume regularly scheduled instruction.
Next Steps
School and IVA principals have communicated this information to their communities with additional details. Please continue to check your email throughout the week.
IUSD will continue to closely monitor the situation and local air quality and provide updates as warranted.
Thank You
We would like to thank our students, families and staff for your understanding and flexibility during this challenging incident that affected so many in our community. If you and your family continue to experience impacts that will prevent your student(s)’ return to instruction, please contact your school directly. Also, IUSD’s Prevention and Intervention team has provided resources at iusd.org/WeCare to help support students after a wildfire, among other helpful information and resources.
IUSD would also like to extend our deep appreciation to the Orange County Fire Authority and the Irvine Police Department. They have been working around the clock to keep our residents, homes, schools and community safe. We have collaborated closely with them throughout this incident and appreciate their partnership.
Please continue to check iusd.org or our social media for updates.
update: 10/27/20 4 p.m. No Instruction for All IUSD Students Wednesday, October 28
Due to the ongoing and significant impacts of the Silverado Fire throughout the city of Irvine, IUSD schools will remain closed and there will be no instruction tomorrow, Wednesday, October 28. This includes IVA and all academic models.
At this time, the fire is only 5% contained and although some evacuation orders have been lifted, a significant number of the 90,000 evacuated residents, including our students, families and staff remain displaced by this and other fires in the region. According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Irvine and surrounding cities are experiencing extremely unhealthy air quality and residents are advised to stay indoors, with windows and doors shut to avoid dangerous particulate matter, which is forecasted to continue into tomorrow. Additionally, parts of Irvine may continue to be subject to Public Safety Power Shutoffs from Southern California Edison, and University and Woodbridge High Schools are still being used as shelter locations for those displaced.
Thank you for your understanding and partnership. We will continue to help provide resources and supports for our families and students. If your family needs assistance, please visit iusd.org/WeCare or contact your school directly.
The health and safety of our IUSD community remain our top priority. We will continue to closely monitor this situation and to work with the Irvine Police Department, the Orange County Fire Authority and other local agencies. As we have new and accurate information, we will keep our community informed.
Also, please continue to follow the Irvine Police Department, the City of Irvine and the Orange County Fire Authority for more information.
Update: 10/27/20 Care and shelter information from the city of irvine
Several Care and Reception centers have been set up for Irvine residents and pets. Centers reopened to the public at 6 a.m.
- University High School: 4771 Campus Drive
- Woodbridge High School: 2 Meadowbrook
- Las Lomas Community Center: 10 Federation Way
- University Community Center: 1 Beech Tree Lane
- Quail Hill Community Center: 35 Shady Canyon Drive
- Rancho Senior Center: 3 Ethel Coplen Way
Anyone in the evacuation zone needing medical assistance is advised to call 949-529-4774.
Update: 10/26/20 3:10 p.m. No School and No Instruction October 27
The rapidly evolving Silverado Fire, which has significantly affected the city of Irvine, is at zero percent containment according to the Orange County Fire Authority. As a result, all IUSD schools will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, October 27, including IVA. There will be no instruction. Please continue to check your email for additional District communications.
More than 60,000 Irvine residents have been evacuated to date, significantly impacting our families and staff, many of whom will not have the ability to attend classes, even virtually. Other impacts include:
- Southern California Edison has informed IUSD that several areas in Irvine will be subject to Public Safety Power Shutoffs and may be without power for periods of time.
- Extremely unhealthy air quality is affecting outdoor activities and will prevent the use of outdoor spaces, which is an important component of IUSD COVID safety protocols.
- IUSD’s Maintenance and Operations team will utilize tomorrow to check and clean our HVAC systems and filters, along with our air purification systems in each classroom.
- Woodbridge and University high schools are being used as temporary shelters for those displaced by the fire.
The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and families is our top priority. Please know that we understand how stressful this time is and we are committed to supporting our IUSD community. Please visit iusd.org/WeCare or contact your school if your student(s) needs mental health and wellness or other supports.
As soon as we have updated information about shelters and supports for families displaced by the fire, we will provide it to our community. In the meantime, please continue to follow the Irvine Police Department, the City of Irvine and the Orange County Fire Authority for more information.
Update: 10/26/20 12:55 p.m. IUSD schools safely evacuated and update from superintendent walker
Dear IUSD Community,
This morning, our region was impacted by the Silverado Fire, which included areas north of Irvine Blvd. and between the 5 Freeway and Irvine Blvd. in Irvine. IUSD worked closely with the Orange County Fire Authority and the Irvine Police Department to monitor the situation and provide direction to our schools and families. As part of this collaborative process, the Irvine Police Department informed our District of mandatory and suggested evacuations for the following schools:
Mandatory Evacuations
- Canyon View Elementary School
- Eastwood Elementary School
- Loma Ridge Elementary School
- Northwood High School
- Portola Springs Elementary School
- Santiago Hills Elementary School
- Stonegate Elementary School
Suggested Evacuations
- Beacon Park K-8 School
- Brywood Elementary School
- Cadence Park K-8 School
- Cypress Village Elementary School
- Jeffrey Trail Middle School
- Northwood Elementary School
- Portola High School
- Sierra Vista Middle School
- Woodbury Elementary School
(Due to the hybrid schedule, middle and high schools were not in session today.)
While students remained safe and indoors, our schools and District immediately began the notification and reunification process between students and parents/guardians. Most families were able to pick-up their children from these schools shortly after receiving notification. For those who could not, students were transported by school bus to Irvine High School, where they were reunited with parents/guardians in accordance with IUSD’s reunification process and policy.
We would like to extend a special thank you to our school staff, students and families, who responded quickly and calmly during this rapidly evolving situation. We would also like to thank the Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Fire Authority for their partnership and diligent work to keep our community safe.
Our thoughts are with all those affected by this fire. We will work with our families and staff, who have been evacuated and/or experienced significant disruption as a result of incident.
Next Steps
We will continue to closely monitor this situation and work with the Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Fire Authority. We will provide updates related to our schools as we have them. In the meantime, please note that all athletics and outdoor activities related to IUSD schools have been canceled until further notice due to unhealthy air quality.
IUSD Emergency Preparedness and Planning
Please know that IUSD plans and prepares for situations like this throughout the year as part of our emergency management process and through our Emergency Preparedness Interagency Collaborative group that includes the Irvine Police Department, Orange County Fire Authority, IUSD, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Red Cross, other area agencies and universities and schools. As a result of our preparedness planning, we were able to execute our response to this emergency efficiently, as we safely evacuated students and staff.
To learn more about IUSD’s emergency management planning and protocols, click here.
Stay Connected to IUSD
During rapidly evolving situations, IUSD works to gather and post accurate information from our first-responder partners in the most timely manner possible. In the event of emergencies such as this, IUSD has established the Stay Connected to IUSD protocol to help direct parents to important information, news and updates. It’s as easy as 1,2,3.
- One – check your email, voicemail and text messages.
- Two – visit iusd.org.
- Three – follow IUSD on social media for real-time updates and information. To learn more and for IUSD social media addresses, visit iusd.org/connect.
We also ask that parents/guardians make sure their personal contact information in the Parent Portal is up to date and that your emergency contacts are up to date, so you know who is eligible to pick your child up from school, particularly in the event emergencies. Finally, make sure that you have not unsubscribed to IUSD emails, otherwise you will not receive important emails during an emergency. To re-subscribe, email HelpDesk@iusd.org.
Thank you for your partnership and support. We will continue to keep you informed as we have updates.
Sincerely,
Terry L. Walker
Superintendent of Schools
Irvine Unified School District
Update: 10/26/20 10:24 a.m. Suggested evacuations
The Irvine Police Department has informed IUSD that the areas between the 5 Freeway and Irvine Blvd. are under suggested evacuation. This includes the following elementary/K-8 schools:
- Brywood
- Northwood
- Cadence Park
- Beacon Park
- Cypress Village
- Woodbury
While students remain safe, parents are asked to immediately pick their children up from the schools listed above and to follow all traffic directions from Irvine Police and the school site. For those parents unable to make it to the school site, students will be transported by school bus to Irvine High School for reunification with parents/guardians. Your school will notify you once school buses have left for Irvine High School. Please continue to check your email, voicemail and text messages. Once parents or those approved to pick students up, arrive at Irvine High School, follow all directions for reunification. Parents or those authorized to pick-up students must show a valid picture ID.
Please note, due to the hybrid schedule, middle and high schools are not in session today and not subject to evacuation.
Update:10/26/20 9:57 a.m. Mandatory Evacuations
The Irvine Police Department has informed IUSD that the areas north of Irvine Blvd. are under mandatory evacuation. This includes the following schools:
- Canyon View Elementary School
- Santiago Hills Elementary School
- Portola Springs Elementary School
- Eastwood Elementary School
- Stonegate Elementary School
- Loma Ridge Elementary School
While students remain safe, parents are asked to immediately pick their children up from the schools listed above and to follow all traffic directions from Irvine Police and the school site. For those parents unable to make it to the school site, students will be transported by school bus to Irvine High School for reunification with parents/guardians. Your school will notify you once school buses have left for Irvine High School. Please continue to check your email, voicemail and text messages. Once parents or those approved to pick students up, arrive at Irvine High School, follow all directions for reunification. Parents or those authorized to pick-up students must show a valid picture ID.
Please note, due to the hybrid schedule, middle and high schools are not in session today and not subject to evacuation.
Follow the Orange County Fire Authority at ocfa.org and the Irvine Police Department for updates related to the fire.