LAUSD plans to start second semester with in person learning

Despite the ongoing surge in coronavirus cases this winter, Los Angeles Unified officials intend to proceed as planned with welcoming students back to campus on Tuesday, Jan. 11, following a three-week holiday break. While the district will continue to assess the situation, officials said Friday that, based on current conditions, they did not believe the district will be forced to cancel any in-person classes at the start of spring semester due to high student or staff infection rates.“We are, right now, very confident (we can) open 100% of our schools on Jan. 11, ” said Anthony Aguilar, chief of special education, equity and access. According to officials, more than half the district’s employees and over a third of students had been tested for the coronavirus as of Thursday. And, Aguilar said, the latest test-positivity rate for students and staff was 13. 5%. Countywide, the seven-day test-positivity rate is about 22. 5%. The district is requiring staff and students to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result before they can return to campus. Those learning or working on campus will also have to continue with weekly testing throughout this month. Just like during the first day of fall semester when families experienced long lines to get onto campus as students were screened, district leaders said they expect lines to be longer than usual on Tuesday, especially since some students who haven’t had their COVID-19 tests will have to take a rapid antigen test onsite that morning before being admitted to campus. They’re recommending families allow themselves extra time to get to school, in anticipation of the longer lines, and urged students and parents to be patient. As for lingering concerns about whether any school might close or revert to online instruction due to high COVID-19 infection rates or staffing shortages, Aguilar said he did not believe that would happen, despite that being the case elsewhere in the country. That said, district officials have or are working on contingency plans in case they’re confronted with worst-case scenarios. According to officials, the district has about 4, 000 employees working at the central office or local district offices who can be deployed to school sites in the event of staffing shortages. Many administrators hold teaching credentials and can teach in the classroom, they noted. Additionally, if there is a shortage of food service workers and hot meals can’t be prepared, the district has shelf-ready meals available for students. Similarly, district leaders have been working with the transportation department to plan for the consolidation of bus routes should there be a shortage of school bus drivers, district leaders said.“We are making contingency plans for all scenarios. All data is taken from the source: http://dailynews.com Article Link: https://www.dailynews.com/2022/01/07/lausd-plans-to-start-second-semester-with-in-person-learning/ #district #newstv #newstodaycnn #newsworldnow #newsworldbbc #newstodayoncnn #

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