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.
LAUSD Cancels Plans For Centers To Help With Childcare During Coronavirus Closure
A sign outside of Gage Middle School in Bell announces that all LAUSD schools will be closed beginning March 16. (Chava Sanchez/ LAist)
()
Los Angeles Unified School District officials have cancelled plans to open 40 "Family Resource Centers," where the school system had hoped to offer childcare and meals to needy students during the district's two-week shutdown.
On Monday evening, LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said public health authorities couldn't guarantee the centers would be safe — either for children or for staff — as the coronavirus spreads.
"I cannot ask anyone to work at one of the centers, or open them to children, unless we can be assured of their safety," Beutner wrote in a letter.
Update on March 16th.
— Austin Beutner (@AustinLASchools) March 17, 2020
Actualización del 16 de marzo. pic.twitter.com/xxc1b1AcxO
Support for LAist comes from
LAUSD leaders have previously acknowledged the plans for the Family Resource Centers came with some risk. When Beutner announced the plans last week, he had said all visitors would have their temperature checked to ensure anyone with possible COVID-19 symptoms wouldn't be admitted.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has urged schools to make efforts to continue to provide social services to students. His executive order says schools must make efforts to "arrange for supervision for students during ordinary school hours … to the extent practicable."
So LAUSD is making a new plan.
Instead, the district plans to open 60 "Grab and Go Food Centers" starting on Wednesday. On weekdays from 7 to 10 a.m., each student will be able to take home two meals daily from these sites.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:
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
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
-
Hexavalent chromium is the same carcinogen Erin Brockovich warned about in the 1990s, but researchers say more study is needed on the potential health effects of nanoparticles detected earlier this year. Experts will answer questions at a webinar this evening.
Best of LAist