OCDE Education in the News

Friday, February 12, 2021

LOS ANGELES TIMES

Schools in more affluent areas move faster to reopen than those in low-income communities

A Times survey of over 20 L.A. County school districts found that districts in wealthier, whiter communities were more likely to be moving full steam ahead to reopen elementary schools.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-02-11/divide-emerges-covid-school-reopening-rich-poor-areas

VOICE OF OC

Health Experts Answer Vaccine Questions While Questions Linger Over Planned Vaccination Site in Santa Ana

A vaccination site is set to open tomorrow at Santa Ana’s Valley High School, according to the Santa Ana Unified School District. It’s a partnership with the county and community health clinic Latino Health Access, said Santa Ana Unified School District Board Member Valerie Amezcua on Thursday. Most of the known details on the Valley High site came straight from school district officials, who announced online that they would be hosting several vaccination sites over the next several days, starting with Valley High.

https://voiceofoc.org/2021/02/health-experts-answer-vaccine-questions-while-questions-linger-over-planned-vaccination-site-in-santa-ana/

DAILY NEWS LOS ANGELES

LAUSD explains why it declined to have some employees vaccinated early

Teachers and staff at various schools and day-care centers throughout San Fernando Valley were recently offered COVID-19 vaccines after a local hospital reached out to them about getting vaccinated.

https://www.dailynews.com/2021/02/11/lausd-explains-why-it-declined-to-have-some-employees-vaccinated-early/

USA TODAY

San Francisco sues to reopen schools, cites high of suicidal students

The number of suicidal children in San Francisco has hit a record high and health experts say it is clear that keeping public schools closed “is catalyzing a mental health crisis among school-aged children,” according to a lawsuit.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2021/02/12/covid-san-francisco-students-suicidal-due-closed-schools/6735005002/

SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

Did Gov. Newsom’s office just end any hope for California high school football season?

Mixed messages from Gavin Newsom’s office not a good sign as the clock ticks toward a crucial March 1 football start date.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/02/12/did-gov-newsoms-office-just-end-any-hope-for-california-high-school-football-season/

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

East Bay district looks to begin reopening next month

Younger students, those through the fifth grade, will return to a hybrid model of instruction if the adjusted case rate drops below 25 cases per 100,000 residents for five consecutive days, and upon the district filing a COVID safety plan with the county and state.

https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2021/02/12/east-bay-school-district-looks-to-begin-reopening-next-month/

KQED

Can rapid COVID-19 testing for kids help reopen schools?

Rapid COVID-19 antigen testing is now used by nine school systems across California willing to pilot the twice-weekly testing of all students who have parental permission. Part of an attempt to reopen campuses, the program is also under consideration by several more districts.

https://www.kqed.org/news/11857118/can-rapid-covid-19-testing-for-kids-help-reopen-schools-some-california-districts-bet-yes

OTHER NEWS OUTLETS

CDC guidance on schools is coming. That might not settle a heated debate.

Fresh advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will drop as the White House continues to push for in-person learning for most K-8 students.

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/11/cdc-coronavirus-school-reopening-guidance-468700

Let Them Play rally at California state Capitol: ‘Sports was my life. Without it, I don’t have anything.’

Outside the Capitol, proponents of the Let Them Play CA movement gathered on the west-side steps to make their latest public case for a prompt return to play across the state. The rally comes following weeks of back-and-forth meetings between Gov. Gavin Newsom's staff and return-to-play advocates that have yet to yield any results.

https://www.marinij.com/2021/02/11/let-them-play-ca-rally-at-state-capitol-sports-was-my-life-without-it-i-dont-have-anything/

All San Joaquin school employees to receive Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

San Joaquin County school district, private and charter school leaders will receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine through the rest of February and early March, the San Joaquin County Office of Education said in a letter Thursday.

https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/coronavirus/2021/02/11/pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-given-all-sj-county-school-employees/6732374002/

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