Students of Moncton School District, the fourth largest system in California, will not return to campus until March 1 as the dangerous coronavirus wave continues to rage the area.
The district, with around 72,000 students and 12,000 employees, had planned to begin personal lessons in January. However, given the unprecedented spike in COVID-19 cases, it is unlikely that Los Angeles County will reach the threshold required to reopen schools by then.
The announcement comes a week after the Los Angeles Unified School District shuts down all services on campus due to the increase in cases. LA Unified hasn’t announced any plans for January yet.
This week the county announced that there are fewer than 100 intensive care beds available and more than 4,400 people with COVID-19 have been hospitalized.
“We will continue to monitor all state and local health data. The moment we can reopen schools, we will be ready, ”said Moncton Supt. Jill Baker said in a video message. “We have the protective equipment that is needed. We have the necessary security protocols. Our facilities are well prepared. “
If a reopening on March 1 is not an option, Baker said, the next possible date would be April 12 after the spring break.
The school district will continue to provide childcare to key workers and families participating in childcare programs between January and March and will continue to evaluate students for support services, said Chris Lund, deputy superintendent of Moncton Unified. He added that the district will also consider bringing students back to school in transition kindergarten through second grade with a waiver that other school districts have used to bring back small groups of younger students.
“This is not the messages we want to send,” Baker said of the announcement. “But this situation is only temporary and we look forward to seeing you again as soon as we are entitled to do so.”
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