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With COVID-19 Surging, Reopen Schools Or Continue Distance Learning? Since Sept. 1, 118 Cases (77 LBUSD Staff + 32 Students + 9 Visitors/Vendors) Reported With COVID-19; Parents/Guardians With K-5 CDC/Preschool Students At Hudson, Barton, Lincoln And Starr-King Latest To Receive Notices That Their Child May Have Been Exposed
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Coastal Comm'n staff announces POSTPONEMENT of Dec. 10 hearing on proposed Belmont Beach Aquatics Center.
We'll update you when new hearing is scheduled. We’re a group of residents opposed to City Hall building the project just north of beach sand in SE LB because of future sea-level rise (the beach site is expected to flood in 30-50 years), the cost ($82 million, from Tidelands Funds) and the fact that there’s already an existing outdoor pool at this site installed 5 years ago when the old Belmont Pool was demolished in 2015. There are places in Long Beach with a greater need for recreation and sports facilities
The entire City of Long Beach has only 3 public pools. Long Beach needs more community pools, but not on the beach. This pool should be built in a neighborhood where more Long Beach residents can easily reach it to enjoy the benefits of swimming and recreation.
Paid for by Long Beach residents who think there’s a better place in Long Beach for a public pool. Contact us: ABetterPlaceForAPool@gmail.com
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With COVID-19 Surging, Reopen Schools Or Continue Distance Learning? Since Sept. 1, 118 Cases (77 LBUSD Staff + 32 Students + 9 Visitors/Vendors) Reported With COVID-19
Parents/Guardians With K-5 CDC/Preschool Students At Hudson, Barton, Lincoln And Starr-King Latest To Receive Notices That Their Child May Have Been Exposed
If LBREPORT.com didn't tell you, who would?
No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report.
LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. Support independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.
(December 12, 2020, 6:20 p.m.) -- Despite only limited on-campus activities (K-5 preschool/day care/child development services), LBUSD's COVID 19 dashboard (at this link) shows that since Sept. 1, LBUSD has had a total of 118 reported COVID-19 cases among 77 LBUSD employees, 32 students and 9 vendors/visitors.
A week earlier as of December 5, the figures were 83 total reported COVID-19 cases among 54 LBUSD staff, 22 students plus 7 visitors/vendors. .
LBREPORT.com has also learned that least one school, NLB's Starr King (K-5)'s Childhood Development Center (CDC) was closed for 14 days following a potential expsoure to children on December 2 and 3...and its CDC sessions were closed for 14 days due to a staffing shortage, with reopening put off to Jan. 4 to meet the end of LBUSD's winter break.
On December 11, parents/guardians with childen in the Hudson (westside K-8) Child Development Center/Head Start and Barton's K-5 (NLB) preschool with Educare on campus were the latest to receive notices that their child may have been exposed to someone on campus with COVID-19 on campus on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
On Dec. 8, parents with childen at Lincoln (Cambodia Town) K-5 CDC were notified of at least one confirmed COVID-19 case in a person on November 30th and December 1st, 2020. "We are informing you of this circumstance in an abundance of caution and to ask you to closely monitor your child’s health," the general notification said..
On December 7, parents/guardians with children in NLB's Starr King CDC were semt a similar general notice of possibnle epsoure via an unidentified person on December 2nd and 3rd, 2020. (A separate exposure notification was given to parents of students who may have been potentially exposed.)
Starr King's general notice added: "Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing a staffing shortage. Due to the fact that the staff is the same in the AM and PM session, we will have to close both the AM and the PM session for 14 days. The 14-day period ends on December 18th and the return to school date is December 21st which is also the same day that winter break begins. Therefore, your child’s return date is January 4th, 2021."
LBUSD has also closed all of its school offices to in-person visits by the public between Dec. 14 and Jan. 3. LBUSD says its schools will still be available by telephone during regular office hours and distance learning will continue as scheduled.
[Scroll down for further.]
Other than CDC's and special programs mainly for K-5 students, all LBUSD on campus instruction has been halted through at least Jan. 28, replaced by digital distance learning with a reopening date currently uncertain..
LBUSD's website indicates the district "continues to consider evolving guidance from state and local health and education agencies regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic." Earlier this year, LBUSD issued a 2020-2021 School Opening & Safety Planvisible here<./a>.
COVID-19 cases in Long Beach and Los Angeles County are now surging with a rising "7-day positivity rate" (the percentage of those tested who test positive over a week long period) indicating the virus is now circulating in higher numbers than a few weeks ago.
On December 11, LB's "7 day positivity rate" reached double-digits, exceeding 10%. As separately reported by LBREPORT.com, the daily positive rate figure is likely higher. The City of LB blocks public/press access to daily positivity rate data; offering instead a "7 day figure" diluted by data up to a week old.
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A sizable number of parents continue to urge LB schools to reopen. A Facebook page titled Reopen Long Beach Schools now boasts roughly 2,100 members. From a Dec. 1 posting:
Heard from a LBUSD coach who is terribly worried for many of his student athletes who are failing school. Grades are drastically sliding across the board. A friend shared the story of a student who took her own life this fall. Anxiety, depression, suicide watch - it’s a new reality for far too many students and their parents. Met with Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell who is fighting for districts to be ready to open the moment the county is in compliance with the Red Tier of Newsom’s executive order. Tomorrow (Dec. 2):
MARCH FOR ACCOUNTABILITY of our city’s leadership. Let Protocol win over Closure for schools and business. 3:30, 2nd and PCH. PLEASE BRING SIGNS!!! Display your passion and make your voice heard Thursday: Meet with Dr. Brown. Begin investigating the best way to proceed to make SCHOOLS ESSENTIAL and not part of the tier system. We need your support. Please rally for the [Dec. 2] March tomorrow...for the kids who suffer, for those that are achieving, for those that don’t have access, for the employees of shutdown restaurants, for the retail locations that rely on restaurant foot traffic, for our youth, and for our community.
However a separate Facebook group, Parents for Teachers LBUSD has roughly 6,500 members and takes a more cautious approach to reopening, mainly (but not always) supporting stances by LBUSD's school board and management. A recent posting Dec. 12):
Maybe kids aren’t failing school. Maybe we are failing them. Shifting the mindset and making adjustments for the situation we are in is necessary in order to grasp the full level these kids are growing at. They aren’t failing. They have adapted. Not gonna lie-it’s sad. But also good to remember-kids are resilient. They will be ok in academics. Let’s make sure they have the basics of life and make sure that when they don’t-thus preventing them from "succeeding academically"-we help them get what they need-and worry about school later. Blessed be to all the teachers and folks who have been the safety net to a lot of students.
Y’all are true heros.
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On Dec. 2, a number of parents joined with restaurant industry advoacates in a march along 2nd St. in Belmont Shore that started with a little over 100 marchers and built to several hundred participants who variously urged local officials to "reopen Long Beach." (LBREPORT.com coverage with photos here.)
Earlier today (Dec. 12), a noon hour event by "Open Californai Now" was scheduled (Facebook text by event supporter Eric Christopher) to "promote a unified voice against the state and local government's illogical, illegal and damaging overreach on businesses, employees, school students." Mr. Christopher's text says: "What it isn't [is] Anything having to do with Trump, Biden or the Election. (There's plenty to rise up against here at home!)" and says "Please wear a mask and come make your voice heard!"
Photographs of the event appear to show a few dozen participants attended in the area outside LB City Hall.
Dec. 12, 10:24 p.m.: Headline and text updated to reflect additional total casses.
Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.
We'll update you when new hearing is scheduled. We’re a group of residents opposed to City Hall building the project just north of beach sand in SE LB because of future sea-level rise (the beach site is expected to flood in 30-50 years), the cost ($82 million, from Tidelands Funds) and the fact that there’s already an existing outdoor pool at this site installed 5 years ago when the old Belmont Pool was demolished in 2015. There are places in Long Beach with a greater need for recreation and sports facilities
