Employee Vaccines Start Soon as Reopening Planning Continues

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Southern California began 2021 with COVID cases at an all-time high and local healthcare systems operating beyond capacity at an emergency level. But a hopeful development in the pandemic fight is the introduction of a coronavirus vaccine. The Long Beach Unified School District remains in frequent communication with state and local health officials on plans for eventual reopening of school for in-person learning, and for the distribution of vaccinations to school district employees.

Educators across the nation have been prioritized for receipt of the vaccine. Starting as soon as Jan. 25 LBUSD employees and other educators will be able to receive the first dose of the Moderna vaccine here in Long Beach. About a month later, the second dose of the vaccine will be provided for educators. The school district is grateful for its partnership with the City of Long Beach and its health department. This partnership allows the district to collaboratively develop plans and activate them as quickly as possible. 

While vaccinating enough people will take time, the effort is a crucial step toward reopening schools for in-person learning as soon as possible.

As LBUSD has previously reported, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a draft Safe Schools for All Plan on Dec. 30 that adds to school districts’ existing mechanisms for safely reopening for in-person instruction for elementary students. Because LBUSD has been preparing to reopen for in-person instruction for months, the school district has already addressed a number of the components of the plan. But LBUSD also is now exploring the potential added elements of school-based COVID testing for adults and students, which is a requirement of the plan. In an effort to advocate for the needs of local students, LBUSD Superintendent Jill Baker has participated with superintendents from the largest California districts in sharing their schools’ challenges with the state. LBUSD also continues to consult with its teachers association to determine viable ways to return students to in-person learning.

As part of the school district’s planning, this week all elementary parents and guardians are receiving information about an upcoming survey regarding their interest in having their child return to school for in-person instruction, when it is allowable to do so. This survey data will allow schools to plan for the days ahead and specifically for how many elementary students might return to in-person instruction this year. 

Meanwhile, in addition to supporting distance learning, a team is preparing for social emotional support and academic intervention services that will be offered to students in the spring and summer of this year and into the months of fall. The school district recognizes that students will need all different types of support in the weeks ahead and is committed to helping students overcome the challenges that many of them have faced during the pandemic. The support of everyone in the LBUSD community is appreciated during this challenging time.