+ If LA County Reaches Less Restrictive COVID-19 Tier, LBUSD Plans These Phased Limited Reopenings; Says Will Discuss Implementation With Teachers/Staff Union
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If LA County Reaches Less Restrictive COVID-19 Tier, LBUSD Plans These Phased Limited Reopenings; Says Will Discuss Implementation With Teachers/Staff Union



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(Oct. 9, 2020, 3:25 p.m.) -- In a statement at mid afternoon Friday (Oct. 9), LBUSD's management announced that if LA County eventually moves into a less restrictive (or red) COVID-19 tier and remains there for 14 days [which hasn't happened yet], LBUSD will "work toward gradually reopening schools in a cautious, phased-in manner (including using "hybrid" school schedules previously detailed in its School Opening and Safety Plan.)

LBUSD's statement notes that although earlier the City of LB recently issued new guidelines for schools that wish to seek waives letting them potentially reopen for transitional kindergarten through grade 2, this "does not mean that such waivers are immediately possible here" as the latest guidance requires:

  • A letter of support from all labor unions
  • A letter of support from parent organizations at the submitting schools
  • Demonstrated preparation of all required health and safety protocols (including proper personal protective equipment, or PPE)
  • A plan for incorporating surveillance testing into regular school operations for all school personnel
  • A flu vaccination program
  • Training regarding contact tracing for involved staff

"While LBUSD believes that it can meet many of those requirements, including the safety requirements, because the support of the school district's labor partners is one of the key criteria, the school district remains engaged in ongoing communication with the Teachers Association of Long Beach and the local chapter of the California School Employees Association to determine when, and to what extent, local schools might pursue this option if it is safe to do so," LBUSD management stated.

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In announcing its plans, LBUSD management acknowledged that "Despite small class sizes and stringent safety protocols in place at these sites, the school district has experienced a weekly need to temporarily re-close some of these classrooms and ask that small groups of students, and some staff members, remain quarantined at home for 14 days because of potential exposure to COVID-19. Given these experiences, the school district is proceeding cautiously..."
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Earlier today (Oct; 9), LBUSD's public information office informed LBREPORT.com that it sent a notification late last week to parents/guardians of some students at the Willard Child Development Center. That location now joins five other LBUSD sites where some parents received similar notifications (previous LBREPORT.com coverage here.)

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Regarding students with disabilities, LBUSD management says it is "beginning to pilot one-on-one, in-person assessments at its Preschool Assessment Center only." After "successful completion of preschool assessments, LBUSD will continue with a phase-in of in-person assessments of elementary, middle, high school and ACT (Adult Community Transition) populations based on "updated state and county guidance regarding in-person assessment, targeted support services, and facilitation of distance learning in small group environments for students with disabilities and other specified groups of chi

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LBUSD said that as each group is phased in, the district "will continue working closely with local public health officials and labor unions to ensure adherence to safety protocols for the protection of all assessors and students. These safety measures include the appropriate safety training, personal protective equipment and strict testing protocols."

LBUSD said it will send more information to parents as the district continues planning for the return of small groups of specific students. "As LBUSD moves forward, please be assured that the health, safety and well being of students and staff will remain top priorities."

LBUSD's full statement follows below.

[LBUSD statement] As previously announced, the Long Beach Unified School District plans to continue offering most of its instruction and related services online through the fall semester, which ends Jan. 28. Meanwhile LBUSD continues to work with regional and local health agencies as well as state and county education agencies to guide incremental phasing in of limited, in-person services, with an initial emphasis on serving students who have disabilities.

In the County of Los Angeles, schools are not currently eligible to reopen because the county’s COVID-19 status remains in the most restrictive tier, also known as the purple tier. If L.A. County eventually moves into the next less restrictive, or red tier, and remains there for 14 days, LBUSD will work toward gradually reopening schools in a phased-in manner, including by using the "hybrid" school schedules, examples of which are detailed in the previously shared School Opening and Safety Plan.

New Guidance on Potential Waivers to Re-open Early Grade Levels

The City of Long Beach issued new guidelines this week for schools that wish to seek waivers allowing them to potentially reopen for transitional kindergarten through grade 2. The issuance of these guidelines, however, does not mean that such waivers are immediately possible here. Requirements according to the latest guidance include:

  • A letter of support from all labor unions
  • A letter of support from parent organizations at the submitting schools
  • Demonstrated preparation of all required health and safety protocols (including proper personal protective equipment, or PPE)
  • A plan for incorporating surveillance testing into regular school operations for all school personnel
  • A flu vaccination program
  • Training regarding contact tracing for involved staff

While LBUSD believes that it can meet many of those requirements, including the safety requirements, because the support of the school district's labor partners is one of the key criteria, the school district remains engaged in ongoing communication with the Teachers Association of Long Beach and the local chapter of the California School Employees Association to determine when, and to what extent, local schools might pursue this option if it is safe to do so.

As the school district makes decisions going forward, staff also are analyzing data from the in-person services that are currently provided in LBUSD schools. Since the start of the school year, LBUSD has been providing childcare and preschool to about 1,600 students at Head Start, Kids Club and Child Development Center locations. Despite small class sizes and stringent safety protocols in place at these sites, the school district has experienced a weekly need to temporarily re-close some of these classrooms and ask that small groups of students, and some staff members, remain quarantined at home for 14 days because of potential exposure to COVID-19. Given these experiences, the school district is proceeding cautiously, particularly as the onset of cold and flu season approaches. Many cold and flu symptoms mimic COVID-19 symptoms. LBUSD wants to minimize the disruption that a cycle of opening and reopening classrooms and schools would cause.

For Parents of Students with Disabilities

Based on updated state and county guidance regarding in-person assessment, targeted support services, and facilitation of distance learning in small group environments for students with disabilities and other specified groups of children and youth, LBUSD is beginning to pilot one-on-one, in-person assessments at its Preschool Assessment Center only. After the successful completion of preschool assessments, LBUSD will continue with a phase-in of in-person assessments of elementary, middle, high school and ACT (Adult Community Transition) populations.

As each group is phased in, LBUSD will continue working closely with local public health officials and labor unions to ensure adherence to safety protocols for the protection of all assessors and students. These safety measures include the appropriate safety training, personal protective equipment and strict testing protocols.

More information will be sent to parents as the school district continues to plan for the return of small groups of specific students.

As LBUSD moves forward, please be assured that the health, safety and wellbeing of students and staff will remain top priorities


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.


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