By Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]
Although parents and students are experiencing moments of fear and uncertainty as they head back to school amidst the increase in COVID-19 and Delta variant cases, safety and mitigation measures may make it possible for millions of California students to return to school safely.
So said California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who in a media session held by the California Department of Public Instruction, said in a statement that Ethnic Media ServicesThe Los Angeles Unified School District, he recalled that under those parameters, 97 percent of all students in the Los Angeles Unified School District returned to school Monday for the fall semester.
"We have learned that our students need face-to-face instruction, that they have suffered from lack of access to teachers and peers. We know that mental health needs have grown and that gaps have been exacerbated. And so as we continue to tackle COVID-19 and the Delta variant, we know that we can deliver and provide a great education for our students," she said.
However, he explained that distance education will continue for those students who have a medical need or need to have some alternative to in-person instruction.
"I think it's okay to be afraid. But let's let that fear translate into action that ensures that our kids can get an education, and then we can keep them, their families and their educators safe with vaccines. I just want to keep reminding everyone that it's not too late to get vaccinated," she said.
The superintendent acknowledged that Californians have been vaccinated more than residents of any other state. "That's a great job, but let's not stop there. There are still many who can and should be vaccinated," especially for those under 12 who still can't get vaccinated until FDA approval. Maybe later this year.
Meanwhile, he noted that "this is becoming a crisis of the unvaccinated. What we're seeing is that 99 percent of the people who are experiencing serious complications from COVID, including hospitalizations and deaths, are those who have not been vaccinated.
Thurmond said he shares the concerns of parents being one of them, however, he said a return to the classroom in California is possible as long as safety guidelines such as vaccinations, masks, hand washing, social distancing and ongoing testing for both students and school staff are followed.
In this regard, he explained that the tests are an essential point for the return to school, because in addition to the results are obtained in 15 minutes, it is possible to detect who is infected to be sent to quarantine, as well as take the necessary precautions to protect the school community.
In that sense, he said that with the help of the state government, five million rapid tests will be available for this back to school.
He also recalled that in California, the state legislature, Governor Gavin Newsom and the superintendent's office are working together to make a record amount of resources available to all students for counseling.
He explained that many students have experienced the trauma of the pandemic, which is why more than $4 billion has been allocated for mental health services for young people from birth to age 25.
Plus more than $3 billion for community schools, plus school meals are now universal, regardless of students' background and income.
Mitigation measures key to back-to-school season
Superintendent Thurmond noted that money has been given to schools to upgrade classrooms, air purification systems and ventilation.
"We are working on everything to support our students' mental well-being, their physical safety, and of course, what we call the acceleration of learning."
At the beginning of the pandemic, he said, there were more than a million students in the state who didn't have access to a computer, and there are still a million without access to high-speed Internet, so to offset those barriers, schools now have money for programs like literacy, increased tutoring, hiring one-on-one professional development to work with students, and after-school special education.
"This is the most thoughtful and robust budget we've seen for education in decades in California - more than $120 billion to support all aspects of our school communities."
"We recognize that this has been a difficult time, but we can rebuild and build a better education system than we had before, especially for low-income students and students of color. This is our opportunity to build the systems that will help push students, making sure they all have access to tools like computer science, to prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow."
He added that the state budget has billions of dollars to invest in broadband so that students in rural, urban, or border communities have access to the Internet.
At the time, he acknowledged the great effort on the part of parents, educators, classified staff, administrators and volunteers to support students in these difficult times.
On the other hand, he said his office is already working with school districts in all counties that have been severely affected by the fires to support families and students.
A different look at education
Mitigation measures will not be the only changes this back-to-school season, the superintendent said, as there will be a new component in education with an anti-racial focus.
"We have seen, what I call, the pandemic of racism. Certainly beginning with the murder of George Floyd on national television before our very eyes. So, during the pandemic I have launched a new initiative called 'Education to End Hate,' which provides implicit bias training to educators in our schools."
This, he explained, following the rise of hatred against Asian-American and Pacific Islander families, as well as the mistreatment of immigrant children.
In that regard, he noted that a new guide has been created so that school districts can create their own ethnic curriculum and so that students of color can learn about the contributions of their ancestors in the growth of the state of California.
Meanwhile, he explained, legislation is still being considered that would create an ethnic studies requirement for graduation.
Health over politics
The use of masks remains a contentious issue despite nearly a year and a half into the pandemic and a spike in cases due to the Delta variant, which now accounts for more than 90 percent of the nation's sequenced cases.
In response, Thurmond said there is a state mandate from the California Department of Public Health that requires anyone in education facilities to wear a facemask, and if they don't have one, the school will provide one.
But he called on people not to politicize the use of face masks and to put health first under any circumstances.
"It's not just about a mandate, it's about saving lives. I know there are debates going on. People are politicizing it? But at the end of the day it's one of the things that has been proven to save a lot of lives. And that's why we want to encourage everyone to wear a mask."
"We don't want its use to be about law enforcement. We want this to be about keeping people safe, so they can get an education. And yes, wearing a mask means schools, restaurants and public places can stay open. We can be with our loved ones and I encourage everyone to wear them."
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