L.B. Health Dept. OK's Reopening Plans

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Dear Long Beach Unified Community,

As we approach the one-year mark since our school buildings closed, we’re glad to report some continued good news about our schools and our reopening plans. Long Beach Health and Human Services officially approved our school reopening plan this week, allowing us to proceed with in-person learning for transitional kindergarten through fifth grade as planned, starting March 29. Parents have begun to receive communication directly from schools about districtwide safety protocols and the specifics at each school. 

We are grateful for our continued partnership with Long Beach Health and Human Services during this pandemic, especially for their coordinated vaccination efforts, which have ensured that each of our employees has access to vaccination appointments. This coordinated effort has been recognized throughout the country as a model partnership that has a positive impact on community health and our schools. 

The health department’s approval of our plan comes as the adjusted case rate for Los Angeles County was 5.2 per 100,000 this week, continuing a significant and welcome downward trend in recent weeks.

As the March 29 date approaches, elementary families should be sure to remain in contact with their school for details related to their campus, whether you’ve selected in-person or all distance learning. As we shared last week, this is a time to talk to your students about the transition that is happening for them.

The school district’s reopening plans for all grade levels also have been recently updated in our COVID-19 Pandemic School Opening and Safety Plan, which remains publicly available at ngskmc-eis.net/coronavirus.

Middle Grades and High Schools

As community health data continue to improve, the likelihood increases that middle and high school in-person learning on hybrid schedules will begin on the same timeline that we previously announced for families who choose that option:

• April 19 – Grade 12
• April 20 – Grades 6 to 8
• April 26 – Grades 9 to 11

As we did for the elementary grades, we are currently surveying middle school and high school parents about their preferred instructional setting. Those surveys will close this Friday, March 12. Any parents or guardians who have not yet indicated their preference on the survey in Parent Vue can still do so until this Friday. If you have any questions about the instructional program or need assistance in completing the survey, please reach out to your school office.

Sports and Other Activities

California recently issued guidelines to help clear the way for football, baseball, softball, soccer, water polo, cheerleading and other outdoor sports to return when certain thresholds are met. Some sports have resumed, and others are preparing to do so. Watch for further information from schools.

While we are intensely focused on the safe reopening of our schools, our team also is working on our plans for next school year. We expect to run full-day school programs and offer families an option for distance learning. We’ll share more information when it becomes available.

Thank you to all of our families and staff for your support during these challenging but hopeful times as we look forward to seeing many of our students in person soon.

Sincerely,

Jill

Jill Baker, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools