Manhattan Beach Schools Announce Back-to-School Protocols
Aug 06, 2021 06:17AM ● By Mb News Staff
The Manhattan Beach schools have announced protocols for students' return to school on August 25. Masks will be required indoors, as per L.A. County Department of Public Health guidelines.
Interim Superintendent Mike Matthews (who is serving until new superintendent John Bowles begins on Monday, August 9), wrote in a letter to parents that schools will open on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, fully in person, using the schedules that were in effect prior to the pandemic.
Elementary
school will start and end at the same time it did before COVID
closures; and students will attend seven periods a day for middle school
and six periods a day for high school.
Additionally, schools will adhere to the following protocols based on Los Angeles County Department of Public Health guidelines:
- Indoor masks required? Yes
- Outdoor masks required? No
- Ruvna screening still required? Yes
- Quarantines for exposed individuals? Yes (for unvaccinated individuals only)
- Social distancing? Recommended, but not required
- COVID-19 Testing? Available to all
- Vaccinations Required? No, but MBUSD will ask vaccination status
Regarding COVID vaccination and testing, Matthews said, the district is currently determining what the requirements will be. "At a minimum, we will be asking staff and students to provide their vaccination status prior to the start of the school year," he said. "We will also be implementing an optional surveillance testing program, where individual participation will be voluntary."
There will be an independent study option for students, although a newly passed California law regarding independent study is still being interpreted. Matthews said that the independent study option will differ from last year's distance learning in that there will be less contact between students and teachers, and virtually no
peer to peer classroom interaction. Nevertheless, he said, it is an important option
for students who are unable to attend in person due to health concerns.
More information is available at the Independent Study FAQ page.
