It was an opportune moment to leverage during a crisis; with Omicron infections peaking in mid-January, the Culver City Unified School District extended the planned two day break for the federal Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday into a full week. It was a wise choice, as the time away allowed for numbers to begin to decline, and the policy for testing before re-entry to adjust in response.
If and when those days could be put back on the school calendar was an item of discussion at the Feb. 8, 2022 Board of Education meeting.
A statement from the board noted that “Following the three CCUSD non-pupil days – January 12-14, 2022 – when schools were not open (due to the combination of rising COVID-19 cases and excessive student/teacher absences which disrupted both safety and learning), CCUSD is seeking a J-13A waiver from the state of California. If granted, the Board will be reviewing all available options including whether CCUSD will actually use the granted waiver.”
Formally known as a ‘Request for Allowance of Attendance Due to Emergency Conditions,’ it would allow the district to prevent being financially penalized for the closure. As funds for public education inCalifornia are accounted for by a tabulation of students in attendance, the missing days might cost the district money if the waiver is not granted.
With so many factors still in flux, the District has promised to “keep families posted as developments occur.”
Judith Martin-Straw
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