In Manhattan Beach, the winter break from in-person learning for TK-2 and special needs cohorts will likely last another week.

The Manhattan Beach Unified School District will hold a special board meeting on December 31 at 9:30 a.m. to consider the recommendation that the resumption of in-person learning be moved from January 5, 2021 to January 11, 2021 in light of new quarantine guidelines.

According to a statement from the district: "On December 28, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a press release requiring all those who traveled outside of LA County to self-quarantine for ten days. This leaves many of our employees and families in a challenging situation, as they may have made plans following previous guidelines, but now because the rules have changed, they will be unable to be at school on January 5, 2021. In light of this, Dr. Matthews recommends that we resume in-person learning on January 11, 2021. This provides time for those who may have traveled out of the county to self-quarantine, as required, under the new order. In order to discuss this with the Board, we have called a meeting for this item only to be held at 9:30 AM on Thursday, December 31."

Currently, in-person learning is limited to TK-2 students and cohorts of special needs students.

To view the special board meeting agenda, click here. To view the discussion live, click here.

COVID-19 Cases On Dramatic Rise

Since MBUSD started winter break on December 18, the number of COVID-19 cases in the nation, in Los Angeles County, and in Manhattan Beach has continued to rise. 

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, there have been 84 new COVID-19 cases in Manhattan Beach since December 18. 

In that same span of time, the number of cases in Los Angeles County have risen by 150,000. On Tuesday, California hit a record total number of COVID-19 deaths with 242 across the state, as hospitals fill up and create plans for rationing care.