California Nation podcast: Coronavirus cases are skyrocketing. Is this the time to reopen schools?
Coronavirus infections are skyrocketing in California, yet some school districts around the state are making plans to reopen. Is this a deadly mistake?
In this episode of the California Nation podcast, The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board talks to Austin Beutner, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Beutner drew criticism from President Donald Trump this week for announcing that L.A. Unified schools would remain closed until it’s safe to reopen.
Click the player above to listen to our interview with Beutner, along with the Editorial Board’s debate over whether Gov. Gavin Newsom is providing enough leadership:
Beutner said it would be irresponsible to return to in-person classes while Los Angeles infection rates are at “five alarm fire” levels. With over 600,000 K-12 students in over 1,000 schools, LAUSD is the largest school district in the state.
“You can’t just wish us back to school,” Beutner said. “This isn’t just a Nike, ‘just do it.’”
Beutner said infection levels need to be lower before students and teachers can safely return to schools. In addition, he said schools need robust testing and contact tracing capabilities before trying to reopen.
“I’m frustrated … because the testing and the tracing is a missing piece that nobody’s talking about. Nobody’s connecting that to school,” Beutner said. “The Dodgers, the Padres -- they’re getting tested to go back to work. What about teachers and students?”
Beutner also talked about the challenge of making sure every child has the tools needed to succeed at “distance learning,” and he said the federal government must do more to support disadvantaged students.
Just days after Beutner announced his decision to keep L.A. Unified schools operating remotely, the Sacramento County Office of Education announced plans to do the same. Others, like school districts in Placer County, are still planning a return to in-person classes in August.
Is this a wise idea? And should Gov. Gavin Newsom be doing more to provide guidance to schools at this terrible moment in state history? Click hear our conversation with Beutner, along with the Editorial Board’s debate over the best path forward for California schools during the COVID-19 emergency.
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This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 5:00 AM.