MBUSD TK-2 hybrid program begins, faces delays after winter break

WELCOME BACK: Pacific Elementary School welcomes its TK-2 students back onto campus after months of distance learning. Students returned on Dec. 8 with a hybrid schedule of in-person and online classes; however, the return after winter break was further delayed. Photo Courtesy of MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Mike Matthews

By Andonia Goergen

Executive News Editor

After all five elementary schools in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District (MBUSD) implemented the TK-2 hybrid program on Dec. 8, the district made a decision to delay the return to in-person school after winter break to Feb. 1 due to a surge of COVID-19 cases.

The MBUSD Board of Trustees held a special board meeting on Dec. 31 where it discussed delaying the return of the hybrid learning programs due to the increased possibilities of exposure over winter break. The board initially voted 4-1 in favor of distance learning for TK-2 resuming on Jan. 5 and in-person instruction resuming on Jan. 13, according to MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Mike Matthews.

“It was a tough decision to delay the return after winter break, but with safety being our number-one concern, it was the right decision,” Pacific Elementary School Principal Rhonda Steinberg said. “I know it’s difficult for parents for scheduling purposes, but it’s better to have a difficult schedule than a sick child.”

After the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) released a statement recommending that in-person instruction be suspended until Feb. 1, the district faced the decision on whether or not to follow the LACDPH suggestions. In a message to MBUSD parents and staff on Jan. 10, Matthews informed the district that he recommended that special education preschool programs and Special Day Class (SDC) programs return on Jan. 13, while the TK-2 hybrid remains virtual until Feb. 1.

“Personally, I feel following the public health order is the most important factor. Wear a mask, stay six feet apart and do not socially mingle with people outside of your household,” MBUSD Nurse Tami Simmons said. “As a society we must prioritize, and if school attendance is the priority, then we all need to reduce the social pods and cohorts that are definitely occurring within our community.”

The elementary schools prepared for the TK-2 hybrid months before the first in-person classes occurred on Dec. 8. Some protocol put in place to ensure that the environment is safe for students are plexiglass on all student and teacher desks that are stationed six feet apart, one-way hallways and mobile hand washing stations.

“To see the smiles on our students’ faces when they were lining up with their families on dolphins placed six feet apart on the cement was worth every minute of all of the planning, cleaning and strategizing,” Robinson Elementary School Principal Jackie O’Sullivan said.

All individuals entering campus also needed to complete a health and safety questionnaire everyday through an app called Ruvna. These questionnaires assessed whether or not students had any possible symptoms of COVID-19. Despite a minor glitch in the system that was quickly fixed, there were no major issues with any other protocol, according to Steinberg.

“The return to school was remarkably smooth,” O’Sullivan said. “We weren’t sure what to expect, but every staff member knew what to do, and our families followed all of the social distancing protocols, so I was really pleased. When I visited the classrooms, the students were happy, engaged and safe behind all of the plexiglass offices.”

To combat possible COVID-19 cases in the district, a group of MBUSD staff joined together to create the COVID Compliance Team. The members of the team each have specialized duties that are fulfilled when there is a positive case within the district. They work together to prevent the spread by performing proper contact tracing protocol.

“We have an amazing team, and we problem solve together,” Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Dr. Suzanne Webb said. “I’m lucky to work with such an intelligent, empathetic group of people and serve such a wonderful community.”

Currently, there is no projected date for when Manhattan Beach Middle School (MBMS) and Costa will begin a hybrid program, but the Board discussed expanding the high-need hybrid program in these schools at its Jan. 13 meeting. Preparations for grades 3-5 to begin hybrid learning are currently occurring, and once the TK-2 hybrid returns to in-person school, the schedule will increase from one day a week for each cohort to two days per week, according to Steinberg.

“The thought of the one day was just to make sure we could eliminate any problems,” Steinberg said. “Obviously, more time is better, so I’m glad we will be starting two days soon, and then four mornings or four afternoons each week. This is not ideal, but until we are safe, it’s what’s in everyone’s best interest.”