LA Schools Could Reopen In April In New Deal With Teachers

Los Angeles CA

10 March, 2021

12:59 AM

Description

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles Unified School District campuses will resume in-person instruction in mid-April for pre-school and elementary students, and by the end of April for secondary students, under a tentative agreement announced Tuesday evening between the district and the teachers' union. "The agreement provides for the reopening of schools when Los Angeles County is in the red tier according to the state school guidelines, that all staff have access to the COVID vaccine and that schools are kept clean and safe," LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner and United Teachers Los Angeles President Cecily Myart-Cruz said in a joint statement announcing the agreement. "As we have both stated for some time, the right way to reopen schools must include the highest standard of COVID safety in schools, continued reduction of the virus in the communities we serve and access to vaccinations for school staff," they said. "This agreement achieves that shared set of goals. It's our shared commitment to the highest safety standards and spirit of trust and collaboration we will take with us back to schools." Although the agreement is considered tentative, it will almost assuredly be approved by the LAUSD Board of Education and UTLA members. The agreement provides for a "hybrid model" combining online and in- person instruction while adhering to state and local guidelines that students remain in small stable groups without intermingling with students. All students will have the option to remain in online instruction. According to the district and union, the agreement includes: daily in-person instruction for elementary school students in a hybrid morning/afternoon model;daily online instruction for secondary students, with the opportunity to return to campus for peer interaction, social-emotional learning and lessons for college and career exploration;full-day, in-person instruction for preschool students;maintaining current teacher assignments whenever possible;required COVID testing of students and staff prior to their return to campus, followed by weekly testing;required masking and social distancing for students, staff and visitors;school sanitation requirements, with the district noting a $120 million upgrade to ventilation systems and to procure protective equipment and hire custodial staff;social-emotional support for students;additional teacher training; andmeals provided for students, whether they are receiving in-person or online instruction. City News Service