One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
LAUSD Will Reopen School Playgrounds Next Week
A student at Marina Early Education Center races up the jungle gym on Tuesday, April 13.
(
Mariana Dale
/
LAist
)
Listen
0:51
LAUSD Will Reopen Playgrounds Next Week
The Los Angeles Unified School District has announced it will reopen playgrounds at all its elementary schools and early education centers next week.
The Los Angeles Unified School District has announced that it will reopen playgrounds at nearly 600 elementary schools and early education centers on May 3 and they'll have new pandemic safety guidelines in place.
The district’s custodial staff will clean the structures with electrostatic misters (those Ghostbusters-looking backpacks) and disinfectant. Students will be expected to wash their hands before and after playing.
LAUSD’s playgrounds had remained closed even as others in the region reopened. District Superintendent Austin Beutner told LAist younger students needed time to adjust to new routines.
“We wanted to work on the masks. We wanted to work on staying apart," Beutner said. "We wanted to make sure they had reinforced the need and understanding of washing hands and where to wash hands. You do all that first, and then you let them on the playground.”
School board Member Nick Melvoin said he appreciated the district's cautious approach, but wishes the playgrounds opened more quickly.
"I think kids need to be out and playing in addition to being back in classrooms," Melvoin said. "I’m excited to see the caution tape removed and have kids back on jungle gyms for the next two months.”
LAist's Kyle Stokes contributed to this story.
Sponsored message
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
