Classes within the Los Alamitos Unified School District will continue despite a new Stay-at-Home order issued by Gov. Gavin Newsom that was activated this week.
“Given the current trajectory of virus hospitalizations, we are advised this could happen in the Southern California region in a matter of days,” Supt. Dr. Andrew Pulver wrote in a message to the LAUSD community.
Newsom’s five region order was indeed triggered when this region’s capacity of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds dipped to less than 15% (see related story), but the Superintendent said schools are not expected to be affected by the lockdown.
Pulver said LAUSD has received “specific assurances” from the state health authorities that this order will not apply to schools that have already opened for in-person instruction.
The district superintendent said the assurances have come from the California Department of Public Health and the Orange County Department of Education
“This means all Los Alamitos Unified schools will remain open, and our in-person instructional programs will continue,” said Pulver, so long as LAUSD is “following the CDPH COVID-19 safety guidelines.
He said state and local health officials have cited a large body of evidence that the health and safety measures that have been put into place, which include physical distancing, face masks, ventilation enhancements, smaller cohorts, timely contact tracing and notifications, and enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols, have been effective in combating COVID-19.
“As a result, Dr. Mark Ghaly, California Secretary of Health and Human Services, has said schools are not the source of the current COVID-19 surge, continue to have low case and transmission rates, and may remain open during the pandemic,” said Pulver.
Further, Pulver asked the community to “accept and personalize” the governor’s message. “The virus is spreading faster and farther throughout the state than it has since the pandemic began.”
“We must come together as a community,” said Pulver, urging everyone to take the necessary actions to counter the COVID-19 threat, including wearing a mask, avoiding large gatherings and maintaining social distancing.
“Protecting oneself may be an individual choice, but protecting others is up to our collective efforts.”Pulver again thanked the community for its unprecedented support thus far.
“On behalf of our Board of Trustees and the entire Los Alamitos USD Family, we want to extend heartfelt thanks to each of you for the patience, understanding, support, determination, and grit you have demonstrated in working as our partners through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Pulver.
“This is an extraordinary community of students, teachers, support staff, administrators and families who have worked together to ensure that our students’ ongoing educational needs are met at the highest levels, and we should all take pride in what is being accomplished,” he added.