August 17, 2021


Dear Parents,

We are thrilled to welcome all of our students back on campus for full-day instruction on Wednesday, August 25, 2021. Schools will resume using their 2019-20 daily schedules, with all students expected to be in class for the full school day every day. 

As you know, we have not yet left COVID-19 in the rearview mirror, and there are still significant numbers of new cases that we are seeing on an ongoing basis. Our priority is to make sure that students are able to continue to attend school in person, with a focus on regular daily instruction. That said, we will continue to utilize a number of precautionary measures as part of a safe return to school:

  • Everyone on any school campus will be required to wear a mask indoors, per current state and county guidelines
  • All staff and students coming to campus will be required to complete a screening questionnaire (via Ruvna) asking about symptoms, exposure, testing, and diagnoses prior to entering campus
  • We will continue to emphasize hand hygiene, including frequent hand washing and/or sanitizing
  • We will ask students and staff to maintain distance and avoid crowding as much as possible. In outdoor areas where there is potential for crowding or close contact, we may ask students to keep their masks on except when eating or drinking
  • Ventilation systems have been inspected and maintained, filters changed (and, where possible, upgraded to MERV-13), and portable HEPA filters installed in each classroom and office
  • At this time, we will be holding all meetings virtually, including conferences, IEP meetings, staff meetings, and back to school nights
  • Also at this time, we will be limiting campus access during the school day to only staff and students and will not be able to accept in-person volunteer assistance. We look forward to a change in that circumstance once conditions improve
  • As school begins, we will request that families provide information about their students’ vaccination status (if they are eligible to receive a vaccine); please watch for further information about this process
  • Prior to the start of school, we ask that every student seek screening testing, regardless of vaccination status. You may seek a test from your healthcare provider or one of many publicly available testing centers; please see below for South Bay testing locations. If your screening results are positive, please be sure to follow isolation orders and contact your school office to discuss next steps

Some have asked about additional health and safety guidelines and requirements. As you know, Governor Newsom made an important announcement last week about a new health order requiring all employees to be vaccinated or participate in weekly COVID testing. We will begin this process by having all employees get tested prior to the start of school and are in the process of implementing the State Health Officer Order with the expectation that we will have it fully implemented by October, but sooner if possible. At this time, we do not anticipate ongoing screening testing for students, except for student athletes whose participation in our athletics program may warrant periodic testing. We are working to finalize our testing program and will communicate additional details as they become available. 

To answer some other questions we have heard, at this time, there are no county restrictions on travel or social gatherings, and no related quarantine or isolation requirements. We will continue to monitor and follow the guidance of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on these and other measures.

We look forward to seeing all of our students on campus next week and, again, ask that all students seek a COVID-19 screening test between now and the start of school so that we can do our best to make sure that we are limiting the possibility of transmission on campus.

South Bay COVID-19 Testing Locations

Hermosa Beach

CVS Pharmacy—Hermosa Beach (155 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach)
• 310-372-4345
• Test type: Molecular Lab test (PCR)
• Drive-thru testing by appointment, referral not required, testing for all patients ages 3 and up

CVS Pharmacy—Hermosa Beach (4235 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach)
• 310-373-6847
• Test type: Rapid-result antigen test
• Testing by appointment, referral not required, testing for all patients ages 3 and up
 
Manhattan Beach

Same Day Health—Manhattan Beach (2407 N Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach CA 90266)
• Test Type: PCR, Rapid Antigen
• Walk up, appointments recommended, virtual doctor consultation required, insurance accepted

Exer Urgent Care—Manhattan Beach (3215 N Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach)
• 424-295-0540
• Test Type: PCR, Antigen
 
Redondo Beach

CVS Pharmacy—Redondo Beach (316 Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach)
• 310-540-9183
• Test type: Molecular Lab test (PCR)
• Drive-thru testing by appointment, referral not required, testing for all patients ages 3 and up

Same Day Health—Redondo Beach (401 S Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach CA 90277)
• Test Type: PCR, Rapid Antigen
• Outdoor walk up, virtual doctor consultation required, insurance accepted

UCLA Health Redondo Beach Primary & Specialty Care (514 N Prospect Ave, Unit 103, Redondo Beach)
• 310-937-8555
• Appointment required, referral required, tests limited to certain patients

Exer Urgent Care—Redondo Beach (725 S Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach)
• 424-296-3100
• Test Type: PCR, Antigen

Walgreens—Redondo Beach (2321 Hawthorne Blvd, Redondo Beach)
• Test Type: Diagnostic Lab Test (PCR)
• Testing by appointment, referral not required, testing for all patients ages 3 and up
• Drive-thru testing available

Sincerely,
signature
John Bowes, Ed.D., Superintendent
Manhattan Beach Unified School District
325 S. Peck Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
(310)318-7345, x5900
[310-318-7345, x5902]  [[email protected]]  [www.mbusd.org]