Schools may soon apply for waivers to reopen — but only with union support

Student items are left as they were on March 13 in the second-grade classroom of teacher Mrs. Miranda at Cerritos Elementary School in Glendale. School districts, charters and private schools in L.A. County may begin applying within days for waivers that would allow them to reopen elementary schools in person — but public schools will have to show they have union support, county public health officials said Thursday. It would not only pit parents, teachers and school districts against each other, but it would also create an unfair ability for private schools.” In an emailed response to questions, the Public Health department said it is “working on designing the application process to be in compliance with state requirements.” It did not specify whether private schools and charters would have to show some form of parent or teacher support as well. “We’re going to do our best to use the available data and the science to ensure that the health and well-being, both physical and emotional, of all children, teachers, school staff and all of their families remains the top priority,” county Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said at a news conference Wednesday during which she discussed the waivers. “You still want to see how it’s going.” Debra Duardo, L.A. County’s superintendent of schools, said districts “are really eager” to bring students back if they can do so safely.