COVID Cases Decrease, Reopening Planning Continues

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Dear Long Beach Unified Community,

As the number of COVID-19 cases declines in Los Angeles County, the Long Beach Unified School District continues to plan for a gradually phased reopening of in-person learning.

The COVID adjusted case rate in Los Angeles County this week is 31.7 cases per 100,000 people, down significantly from three weeks ago when the rate was about 100 per 100,000. An additional 400 first vaccine doses were provided to teachers this week, totaling about 2,000 vaccine appointments offered directly to 菠菜网lol正规平台 teachers and other employees since Jan. 25. For our community’s health, all of this is good news. 

Meanwhile additional health and safety training has been provided for school leaders. Throughout the month of February, the school district will continue to provide updates and information, including videos of what classrooms look like with social distancing and other safety measures in place. View an example here.

Back on Dec. 14, 菠菜网lol正规平台 publicly stated potential target dates for the reopening of schools, all dependent on diminishing levels of COVID rates in the community. The hope was to begin a phased reopening of elementary grades by March 1, and April 12 was provided as a second option if needed based upon health data. Effective Jan. 14, the California Department of Public Health revised the guidelines to allow for reopening of elementary grades when the adjusted case rate drops below 25 cases per 100,000 people. If the current health data trend continues, and if current state requirements are not changed, elementary grades could soon be allowed to open in Los Angeles County.

At the school district’s regular Board of Education Meeting on Feb. 17, staff will make a recommendation on the phased reopening of schools.

Would all grade levels return at the same time?

No. Because the requirements for elementary and secondary schools to return to in-person instruction are different, the school district plans to reopen elementary grades first, and as health conditions permit, to phase in middle and high school students. 

Will students come to school all day if a family selects in-person instruction?

No. Elementary students whose families select in-person instruction will be in class for 2.5 hours. The remaining part of the day will be spent at home or with a childcare provider completing daily assignments provided by the teacher.

Are staff and students required to get vaccinated to return to in-person instruction?

There is no requirement that staff are vaccinated prior to returning to in-person instruction. However, 菠菜网lol正规平台 continues to partner with Long Beach Health and Human Services to provide vaccines to all employees who wish to be vaccinated. There are no approved vaccines for children, so it is not a state requirement that children are vaccinated. 

Will staff and students be required to undergo COVID testing when schools reopen?

If Los Angeles County remains in the purple, or most restrictive Tier l, all staff and students who return to in-person instruction will be required to participate in weekly anterior nasal swab, asymptomatic testing at school. This means that although students and staff don’t have COVID symptoms, they would be subject to the testing as an additional safety measure. “Anterior nasal” is the front of the nose. This kind of swab is less invasive than other tests that go deeper to the middle or the back of the nose. Once Los Angeles County is in the less restrictive tier, asymptomatic testing may be reduced or discontinued. Final details related to the type of testing and testing administration will be shared when available. 

Thank you for your continued support of our students and schools.

Warmly,

Jill

Jill Baker, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools