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Dear friends and partners,
This is not typically a time of the school year that includes many transitions--but this has not been a typical year. This was certainly clear to me this week as I visited schools across my district with parents and community members to see the safety measures in place for students returning to campus, and as I talked to parents—some of whom are eager to return and others who plan to continue distance learning finish the school year. It has been such a tough year for our kids, families, and school communities, but I am excited that, beginning April 12, we will finally be welcoming students back into the classroom.
COVID cases are declining, vaccines are being distributed, and we’ve learned a lot about the precautions to help keep kids and staff safe. Still, we know that this transition raises many questions, and we are working hard to share as much information as possible as the District finalizes all the details for school reopening. Last week, we held a virtual town hall with the Superintendent. We also compiled a list of answers to questions that we did not get to during the event. You can check out both the recording and the follow-up FAQ on our website.
We also continue to receive promising news about improving health conditions and expanded access to COVID vaccinations. LAUSD has worked hard to be a part of the solution in vaccinating teachers and school staff, and we have provided thousands of doses to employees ready to return to school. I was grateful to get my first dose this week at Mark Twain Middle School in my district, and am proud of the District’s efforts to expand equitable access and partner with community organizations to provide more vaccines to LA Unified families in communities hardest hit by the virus. Gov. Newsom also announced this week that, starting April 15, all Californians will be eligible to receive their vaccination. The light at the end of the tunnel is growing brighter by the day.
This week, we held a public budget committee meeting to discuss our plans and priorities for spending the estimated $5.2B in COVID relief funds LAUSD has received or expects to receive from the state and federal governments. As the chair of this committee, I am committed to continuing these open, transparent conversations and ensuring that families and school communities have a voice in our recovery plans and efforts. I believe we have an opportunity to transform the future of our District with this funding, and will continue to advocate for us to think differently about the best way to support our students and set our schools up for long-term success.
I want to wish a Happy Passover and an (early) Happy Easter to all who celebrate. These holidays on the cusp of spring’s bloom are a time for new beginnings. As we begin the recovery process from this crisis, I deeply appreciate everyone who has fought to keep our kids healthy and learning. We will continue to learn, adapt, and overcome any obstacles that emerge—because our kids and families are counting on us.
We’re all in this together, apart (for now).
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Gisel Juarez, a Junior at Bernstein High and member of the Board District 4 Youth Advisory Council, spoke at the March 9 Board of Education Meeting in support of my resolution, “Closing the Digital Divide to Improve Distance & Hybrid Learning.” Gisel shared her experience with how unreliable internet connectivity has created challenges for her and other students during distance learning. The resolution passed unanimously, and calls on the District to develop an action plan to address internet connectivity issues, allocating up to $5 million of additional funding for this effort to ensure every student has long-term, stable internet access.
