SMMUSD Schools Plan Remote Learning For Fall

SANTA MONICA, CA — Santa Monica and Malibu students will continue distance learning this fall as coronavirus case numbers spike across Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County is reporting a single-day record number of new coronavirus cases Tuesday—4,244—while also announcing another 73 deaths due to the virus. The county has also hit a new high in the number of people hospitalized, at 2,103.

"Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District staff will recommend that the School Board announce a plan to reopen with distance learning, following recent state and local health recommendations and a surge in COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County," Dr. Ben Drati, Superintendent, said in a prepared statement.

The district developed three models for returning to schools and presented them to district parents during June and July. It will adopt what they call Model C, which was described in recent town hall meetings and materials for parents.

"SMMUSD administration, teachers and classified staff plan to work to make distance learning as positive and engaging experience as possible," Drati said.

"SMMUSD staff want to reopen in-person as soon as possible and had been preparing to recommend an in-person option (Model B, the hybrid model that includes both in-person and distance learning)," Drati added. "However, the steady upsurge in coronavirus cases in our region combined with the advice of public health experts has led us to the conclusion that distance learning is the most prudent model to start the 2020-2021 school year."

The school board is meeting to discuss the distance learning plan during its July 16 meeting, along with other important feedback and information for schools.

"This was not an easy decision," Drati said. "As we continuously reviewed guidelines and recommendations from the state, county health officials, Los Angeles County Office of Education, and considered the recent surge in cases and hospitalizations in LA County, we changed our approach and direction this week from hybrid to distance learning."

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health released school reopening protocols on Monday. Several school districts, including Los Angeles Unified and San Diego Unified school districts, have decided to continue distance learning and keep campuses closed.

Santa Monica and Malibu schools have remained closed during the pandemic.

"Reopening with distance learning provides us the opportunity to fully implement these recommendations and prepare for the return of students and staff as quickly and safely as possible," Drati said.

"We understand that distance learning may present a challenge to many families," Drati said. "We will address these concerns in the upcoming school board meeting and during the next month and beyond, along with how we plan to deliver distance learning to our students in a consistent and effective manner."

Drati is expected to update parents Friday following the school board's final decision.

- City News Service and Patch Editor Nicole Charky contributed to this report.

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