Anonymous - There is so much confusion about who and when covid tests are needed. Not all parents are receiving emails. A call should be made to clarify. Pali should be offering tests as a stop in orientation if you want them the first day of school. How will you handle 3000 kids per week onsite to test if everyone needs to be tested weekly or biweekly? LAUSD provides the test within class to all students so parents who can't take their kids after work can get them.The onus should be on Pali to provide the tests to all students during the school day if they are requiring them. Can we require everyone to be vaccinated at school now since most federal and state office are? Everyone should be of age. What protocols are in place when someone tests positive? Does the whole school have to shut down? Will we be back to online learning and fo how long? These questions need to be answered and communicated to the parents.

 

Public Comment - Jennifer Solomon:  Requiring all students, regardless of vaccination status, to be tested on a weekly basis is the only way of keeping the virus case numbers down. Pali’s current plan allows those students who prove they are vaccinated to forgo regular testing. I think this is a mistake and a missed opportunity to help mitigate the rate of increase of cases. As we have seen in the last weeks, breakthrough case numbers are rising, especially among younger people. Without testing vaccinated students regularly, these numbers will continue to rise and the cases will spread like wildfire putting many at danger and allowing the virus to go home with the kids where higher at-risk individuals may reside. Allowing an entire swath of students to enter campus untested feels irresponsible and I would like to better understand the logic made around this particular decision. Thank you.

Dr. Magee reported that the COVID 19 Task Force has been meeting consistently and will be having a special meeting tomorrow.  Discussions have been extensive and do address questions and concerns addressed in public comment.  These issues will be discussed tomorrow in order to make decisions in order to be able to communicate to parents.

D Parcell reported that the committee will continue to discuss data and information becomes available.  Operations is looking at expanded hours of the PCHS testing site to alleviate challenges of testing the large # of students and faculty.  He also clarified that you do not have to be tested at Pali so these are options for students/faculty who are not on campus.  Other usual protections/mitigations will also continue to remain.  Ongoing testing will continue to be discussed.  J Fahn asked whether the school could mandate COVID vaccinations before it is FDA approved for general use.  It was also confirmed that all testing will be free of charge to testees.  JP Herrera also reported that the school has received $470,000 from LACOE for COVID testing and vaccinations.  Monies will be distributed on a monthly basis and any unused monies will be returned to LACOE.  Uninsured testees will currently be covered by the CARES Act.  It was noted that this needs to be clearly messaged to parents.  L Saxon asked if staff can be notified of COVID testing requirements via email so teachers are aware in anticipation of a return to campus.  It was also clarified that additional entry points with extra staff will be available for students/staff when school resumes to assist with clearance.  Staggered arrival times will also be encouraged.  L Saxon also suggested that there be a "fast track" line for students riding school provided transportation.  It was also suggested that testing be arranged by release time for teachers/athletes, etc.  M Bates King suggested that Operations go to the bus pick up locations to see where problems may arise.  D Parcell also reported that the bus stop times will be extended to 10 minutes vs. 3 minutes to help expedite the process.  Testing procedures were also discussed and it was noted that these will be ongoing discussions with the administration and COVID Taskforce.  

R Tenan-Snow discussed AB 130 which was passed.  Teachers hold weekly instructional lessons remote/classroom.  Credential Teacher and Supervising teacher monitor intervention on a weekly basis.  Waitlist generated and accessed according to Teacher FTE - Student ration with high needs students being considered first.  Students able to transfer back to traditional classes dependent upon capacity and course availability.

P Magee noted that the school has reached a tentative agreement which will be brought to the teachers for approval.  Once approved by the bargaining unit it will be brought to the Board for approval.

Next Meeting August 24, 2021 and Board retreat will be held on Sept. 11, 2021.  Both will be held in person.

There was a call for stakeholders to participate in current committees.  D Williams and M Bates King agreed to join the B&F Committee.  B King also requested volunteers for additional volunteers for committees and Board positions.

Board went into closed session at 6:07 pm

Return to Open Session at 6:30 pm

No action taken