Rumors have spread online that the center will provide abortions. District staff, though, have been clear that the center is intended to offer support and information to students about substance use prevention, mental health and sexual health but not abortions.
Long Beach will use funds from a nationwide settlement against opioid manufacturers and distributors toward a youth education and prevention campaign in partnership with the Long Beach Unified School District, among other harm reduction efforts.
A post on Instagram accuses the teacher of saying "This school is lucky they don’t let me bring my 9mm glock, or else I would have shot four students already."
An Oct. 21 letter sent to local members of the California School Employees Association said leadership failed to seek approval from members on key decisions, and also alleged that the local chapter was planning to break away from the state organization.
With Black and Hispanic youth being hit especially hard, the percentage of students meeting math and English standards dropped significantly during the pandemic.