by Mark McDermott
The Manhattan Beach Unified School District has been gradually increasing the number of students returning to in-person classes, welcoming back its TK-2 students earlier this month and almost 100 high needs middle school and high school students this week.
Next week, the district plans to bring back grades 3 to 5, four days a week on a rotating morning and afternoon schedule, and 6th grade for its humanities classes. By April 12, the district intends to begin some form of in-person instruction for grades 7 to 12, depending on forthcoming LA County Department of Public Health guidelines.
Despite the plans, district leaders continue to face criticism for the pace of reopening. MBUSD superintendent Mike Matthews has come under particular fire from frustrated parents. But Matthews, in an interview this week, defended the pace MBUSD has taken and expressed optimism that some sense of normalcy could return sooner rather than later.
Redondo third, fourth, fifth graders returning to campus
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by Donald Morrison
Redondo Beach Unified School District third, fourth and fifth graders are on track to return to school by March 2, in two groups, with sixth graders quickly to follow, according to a plan reviewed by the school board during its Wednesday Zoom meeting.
On Monday, Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office announced that Los Angeles County has met the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health guidelines for elementary school reopenings, which require the County to go five consecutive days with fewer than 25 per 100,000 people testing positive for COVID-19.
“You know how this Covid return to school happens?” said Redondo Superintendent Dr. Steven Keller. “You get a random tweet on a Monday that you weren’t expecting, and then you get a firestorm of emails and news reports.”