Governor Newsom Plans to Reopen In-Person Schools This February
MARCUS PARTIDA (Staff Writer)
Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing for the reopening of schools for grades TK-6 this February, using a two-billion-dollar financial plan amid rising COVID-19 cases. However, the Alhambra Unified School District has decided not to follow this plan and will remain closed.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Newsom’s plan will allow children from TK-2 to return to in-person classes by mid-February, while the rest of the elementary school students would return by March. These students will be required to wear face coverings while the teaching staff would be required to wear surgical masks. There was no time frame announced for grades 7-12.
Governor Newsom’s plan comes at the time of rising cases, especially for Los Angeles county. The K-6 schools that would be allowed to open are in counties with a seven-day average of 25 cases per 100,000 residents. Newsom feels that reopening at this time is necessary as it can help identify children suffering depression and abuse at home. Younger students also have a harder time focusing on a screen, which is why they are made the priority.
A tight deadline is put on these schools, as they must agree to follow planned safety measures for in-person schooling along with submitting their own precautions by Feb. 1 in order to receive full grant funding.
“I can’t judge whether or not Newsom’s plan is good,” English teacher Nicole Hamilton said. “The only way Newsom’s plan can transpire is if all teachers are able and willing to get vaccinated.”
Meanwhile, school districts such as the Alhambra Unified School District, do not believe this is the right time to push for in-person schooling. The Los Angeles Times reports that the district’s head of media relations Tony Gilbert believes that keeping schools closed is the best solution for now.
“We will continue those restrictions in this surge upon a surge and revisit it at the end of February,” Gilbert said. “We’re just trying to make sure everybody’s safe, and everyone will need some advance notice of a possible reopening.”
The newsletter sent out by the Alhambra Unified School District to the parents on Jan. 12 states that it is best to wait until the number of infections decreases. When it is time to re-open, distance learning will still be an option for students.
“If younger kids return to in-person school it is still not safe,” sophomore Justin Gov said. “It is still putting risk to their parents and other siblings. The district made a smart move to not let us return.”
Whether or not Governor Newsom’s deadline will be met is unclear. For now, schools urge parents and family members to stay safe and follow social distancing guidelines.