By Lexie Blakeman
News Editor
The Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) implemented the next steps in its plan to return all students to campus by expanding the TK-5 Hybrid Program and allowing secondary students to return to in-person school on Monday.
After ensuring that all safety measures were being adhered to, the district allowed third through fifth-grade students to return to campus on March 1. These elementary school students are now attending in-person school four days per week, according to MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Mike Matthews.
“As long as we continue acting safely and responsibly, we will continue these wonderful trends and hopefully be able to stay in school as the cases continuously get lower,” Matthews said.
On March 8, sixth graders became eligible to come back for their one humanities class because they were previously not allowed to switch classes throughout the day. However, since the number of COVID-19 cases has dropped in Los Angeles County, all middle school students will be able to attend all of their classes in-person twice a week starting on Monday.
“South Bay superintendents have been advocating for [switching classes], as there are plenty of examples from surrounding counties and from middle schools and high schools around the nation where students switch classes, and the schools are operating safely,” Matthews said.
The proposed date for the return of Costa students to in-person learning was originally April 12 but is now Monday. Freshmen will be the first to return on Monday, and sophomores, juniors and seniors will return on Wednesday. Students will be divided into two cohorts and participate in a combination of in-person and at-home learning.
“I think a lot of progress has been made in regards to making it safe for us to return,” junior Ryan Garvey said. “However, I don’t feel that it’s worth it to come back to school yet. Coming back only two days a week for only two hours doesn’t seem like it would be beneficial enough for me to want to come back.”
According to results from a survey sent out to families in the district, 24 percent of Costa parents and 11 percent of MBMS parents do not plan on having their child return to in-person learning this spring. Distance learning options will be available for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year but are not guaranteed to be available next school year, according to Matthews.
“Things are looking very positive right now, and I love it,” Matthews said. “But all of this good news does not mean the pandemic is over. We need to remain safe and follow the guidelines.”
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