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A Look Behind The Scenes At Preparations To Reopen LAUSD Campuses
Disposable masks sit in boxes stacked at LAUSD's 390,000-square-foot procurement warehouse in Pico Rivera. (Kyle Stokes/KPCC/LAist)
Across L.A. County, more public schools are inviting students back to classrooms: this week, districts from Duarte to Whittier to San Dimas will resume some in-person teaching.
The biggest district reopening in our area begins next week. That's when Los Angeles Unified reopens a handful of elementary campuses. After that first batch reopens, most LAUSD elementaries will welcome students back the week of April 19. Middle and high schools will follow the week of April 26.
Some district employees are working around the clock — literally — to ensure schools have the masks, protective equipment and cleaning supplies they need to reopen. Most of these goods flow through LAUSD's warehouse in Pico Rivera, where workers like Danny Vasquez load them onto trucks that roll out as early as 3 a.m.
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As campus reopening looms, Vasquez is bracing himself:
“It’s going to get extremely busy … All of these schools have to be sanitized, or we’re not going to open.”
READ MORE ABOUT LAUSD CAMPUS REOPENINGS:
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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