Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
These South Bay School Districts Are Reopening Some In-Person Classes This Week
Signs on restroom doors remind students to keep six feet away from each other, wash their hands, and wear a mask. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)
()
While Los Angeles Unified and other large school districts in the state are wrestling with how and when to resume in-person instruction, some smaller districts are already beginning to welcome at least some of their youngest students back to campus.
Public school districts in El Segundo, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach are all reopening campuses this week to serve students in transitional kindergarten through 2nd grade. Those students will attend under a hybrid model, with some taking classes in-person and others virtually.
Those districts are also welcoming back some students who need specialized services. They’re also resuming in-person athletic conditioning for student athletes.
Last fall, prior to the most recent regional stay-at-home orders that closed down schools, some districts had reopened partially under waivers granted by the County Health Department. These South Bay districts were among those that had their waivers granted.
Support for LAist comes from
In January, they heeded guidance from the L.A. County Department of Public Health to keep schools closed. Now, with coronavirus cases falling and the county easing restrictions, these districts are putting their hybrid learning and COVID-19 safety plans into action.
Starting Tuesday in El Segundo Unified, cohorts of students in transitional kindergarten through 2nd grade will spend two-and-a-half hours on campus in the morning or afternoon, four days a week. Students and school employees are expected to social distance and wear masks.
District Superintendent Melissa Moore says she’s confident in her district’s decision to resume in-person classes. She already has support from the school board, teachers' union, mayor’s office, parent teacher associations and other community groups.
”Being a small school district—we have just under 3,500 students—we can be more nimble,” Moore said.
Moore is also planning a proposal to bring 3rd grade students back on campus in mid-February. Throughout the process, she plans to keep her eye on local reported COVID-19 cases.
“We have a very small residential population...so our case rates have been very low,” Moore said.
In the last two weeks, El Segundo reported 310 cases per 100,000 people. Other L.A. County cities have reported thousands of cases over the same time frame.
Support for LAist comes from
Redondo Beach Unified likewise has reported relatively low cases, and on Monday started TK-2 hybrid classes for the first time since the pandemic began. Superintendent Steven Keller said day one was successful.
“We can confirm that we did not see one child cry as their parent walked away,” Keller said. “What we take away is kids are excited to come back to school.”
Keller’s district is testing out concurrent teaching, meaning one cohort of students learns on campus each day while another group learns virtually. Keller said he plans to gauge parents, teachers and students' thoughts on the program a little later this year.
In Manhattan Beach Unified, TK-2 students will also be divided into two cohorts. This week, the district will offer two on-campus days and next week it will ramp up to four.
As for L.A. Unified, Superintendent Austin Beutner said in his weekly video address that the coronavirus case rate remains too high to safely resume in-person classes. “There’s a lot that has to happen to get schools reopened,” he said.
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist