An agreement between the California legislature and the governor could award $ 2 billion to school districts that start their classes in person by next month.
The news was announced on Monday, the same day that the COVID vaccine – was made accessible to educators. Governor Gavin Newsom said that in California, 9.1 million vaccines have been administered and the cases of contagion have reduced significantly.
“Six weeks ago, we were announcing more than 50, 000 COVID cases, only 3, 500, ”Newsom said at a press conference. “Hospitalizations and the intensive care unit decreased coincidentally in a period of 14 days in 42. 1%, so things are moving in the right direction. ”
Because of these numbers the governor said they expect all Transitional Kindergartens (TK) and schools through second grade to reopen.
Financial incentive for school districts is part of state bill AB 86, entitled COVID – 19 relief and school reopening, reporting, and public health requirements , to offer in-person instruction in counties with fewer of For each 86, 000 residents.
The $ 6 plan. 60 billion is divided into $ 2 billion for schools that return to face-to-face classes next month. Another $ 4. 60 will be distributed among schools whose students have lost learning. This could be through interventions or the extension of the school year, among other options.
Concerned parents
Juanita García, from 70 years old, she is the grandmother and legal guardian of her two grandchildren of 17 Y 15 years. Both adolescents have learning disabilities and are in special education classes.
García assured that virtual classes during the year have been stressful for her, but for her grandchildren they have been “the coup de grace “since their education was reduced to practically nothing.
” They suffer from anxiety attacks, spending too much time in front of the computer affects them too much, “said García.
However, she flatly refuses to return them to classes in person without first being vaccinated.
Garcia said that in December she was infected with COVID – 19 and her older grandson who cared for her he was also infected, but was asymptomatic. Now she questions whether her grandchildren could be infected and not show symptoms when they return to school, thus carrying the virus to other people.
“For me it would be best if all the equal requirements and that they vaccinate everyone, ”said Garcia. “They have already lost a year and we are going to throw another one to the good of God.”
Garcia, who has Volunteering at various Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools and teaching early childhood education, she said she cares about her grandchildren but is also concerned about her neighbors’ children and the children of her friends.
For her part, Karla Franco, from 40 years old, has four children and two attend LAUSD schools in the ninth and sixth grade in the city of South Gate.
She asserted that online learning has been a “ resounding failure ”and LAUSD has completely failed low-income students. He assured that if in so many years the staff has not been able to control what is seen, how are they going to control what is not seen.
“They enter schools with drugs, they enter with weapons, there are fights, there are bullying and that they cannot control it, how are they going to do if children contract the virus? Nobody can see that if the child has no symptoms, “Franco said angrily.
He added that so far both the LAUSD and the teachers union are concerned about the welfare of the children. adults, but no one has thought about the well-being of children.
“They say they are going to implement a plan to disinfect and take the temperature. How are they going to do that if they couldn’t even prevent students from jumping over the fence [de la escuela] in their faces? ”Asked Franco.
Both Franco and García are part of the parent group “Our Voice: Communities for a Quality Education”, a group of leading parents that tries to give a voice to all Latino parents.
Franco said that school authorities should not underestimate low-income parents, or brand them as ignorant or remove them from plans that affect their children.
“We want them to include us in the safety plan and that this is approved by the parents, not the district. The problem is that they see our children as dollar symbols, “said Franco.
” The LAUSD is reaching an agreement with the teachers union but no one is taking into consideration to the students ”, added García.
The spread of the virus among children and adolescents
Dr. José Mayorga, executive director of the UCI Health Family Health Center in Orange County, said it is well known that children get sick when other children are sick. However, as long as there is a regimen to protect themselves, parents need not fear.
“Even though children can get sick from COVID – and transmit the virus to others, less than 10% of cases in the United States have occurred among children and adolescents ages 5 to 17 years, ”said Mayorga.
He added that the parents’ concern is understandable since children are usually asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, but they could transmit the virus to their parents or grandparents.
“But we have to understand that in other countries where children have returned to school there have not been significant outbreaks,” said Mayorga.
The doctor added that to have a safe return to class, he recommends that prevention strategies be followed. These include the use of face masks, cleaning, good ventilation in classrooms and cafeterias, the use of antibacterial gel, and most importantly for now, vaccinating educators.
So far the COVID vaccine – approved for ages Mayorga said that more studies are being done for people from to 18 years, but he doubt that it will be ready for the next semester since much more studies need to be done.