In efforts to have in-class learning return, LAUSD takes matters to their own hands.
By Cesar Padilla, Staff Writer
The Los Angeles Unified School District opened their first COVID-19 vaccine sites last month for their staff to recommence in-class learning.
The vaccination site is located at Edward R. Roybal Learning Center, just outside of downtown Los Angeles and has been operating since Jan. 17. Superintendent Austin Beutner of LAUSD launched this site in hopes to have in-class learning return to its schools. The vaccine was originally only for qualified staff over the age of 65, but is now available to teachers and childcare workers to LAUSD. In a report by the Los Angeles Times, Beutner confirmed that the district will receive an allotment of 25,000 vaccines from the state, which he called a “game changer.”
“Gov. [Gavin] Newsom has made vaccinations for school staff a priority from the beginning and is ensuring that’s the reality on the ground in the communities we serve,” Beutner said.
Los Angeles residents ages 16 to 64 that have precise disabilities to various health conditions are eligible to receive the vaccine on March 15.
“Beginning March 15, health care providers ‘may use their clinical judgement’ to give COVID-19 vaccines to California residents aged 16 to 64 with certain health conditions and disabilities,” according to KTLA.
The goal for this vaccination site is to have at least 25,000 teachers and staff members to receive the vaccine before fall, as reported by KTLA. It raises the possibility of opening schools for 250,000 students granted by the state's guidelines. Especially, when their plan is to make the elementary schools a priority to open.
The road to reopen schools continued as LAUSD was approved to expand their sites by partnering with the Los Angeles Rams in operating a mass vaccination site at SoFi Stadium beginning March 1, as it could vaccinate about 10,000 people a day, according to the Daily News. They look to open the site as soon as possible as the Rams and city of Inglewood reassure that reopening schools is a priority.
“In speaking with Superintendent Beutner and Inglewood Mayor [James T.] Butts about how we can best support our community during this time, it became clear that assisting schools to reopen safely would have wide-ranging impacts for all Angelenos,” said Rams Chief Operating Officer Kevin Demoff in a statement to the Daily News.