Santa Monica Schools Reopening Plan Still Underway

SANTA MONICA, CA — There are still questions remaining around how Santa Monica schools will reopen this fall semester.

School start August 20 for SMMUSD students but district officials are still working to determine if classes will be in-person, continue distance learning, or a hybrid of both.

This week and next, school district staff will meet with the PTA Council, the District English Learner Advisory Committee, the Special Education District Advisory Committee, and the Local Control Accountability Plan Parent Advisory Committee, to discuss the preliminary results of the staff and parent survey data regarding reopening schools, along with official health guidelines. The group will put gather input on possible ideas for reopening schools in Santa Monica.

A full survey report from Hanover Research will also be posted online when available in a few weeks, according to the district.

The district has also brought a teacher representative from each school site, principals and Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association representatives together earlier this month to discuss reopening.

"Like all school districts in the county, SMMUSD will honor and respect the health and safety guidelines for reopening of schools, as recommended by the California Department of Education, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and the Los Angeles County Office of Education," SMMUSD Superintendent Dr. Ben Drati said in a news release.

"Our goal is to keep our students and staff safe and healthy (physically and mentally) while maintaining excellent teaching and learning," Drati said. "Having an actionable and more definitive plan to address both goals will be presented to the community in early July."

The answer isn't set yet, he said.

"In early July, our Board of Education will hold a special meeting workshop to discuss the recommendations from staff," Drati said. " In mid-July, a message will be sent to parents, staff and the community outlining our district’s reopening plans."

"I realize many people want a definitive answer as to what school will look like," Drati said. "Based on information presently available, we will most likely provide a combination of distance learning and an on-campus experience. LACOE and CDE recently published their recommended guidelines, and every district in the county is currently processing how it will meet the educational needs of students while addressing the safety concerns outlined in the guidelines. This is a complex puzzle, and we will keep you informed as we move through the process."

To learn more about how schools in California are discussing reopening, visit the state's recent guidelines.

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