CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Shannon Haber, (LAUSD), 213-393-1289 June 15, 2020
Maureen Magee (SDUSD), 619-381-7930
California’s Two Largest School Districts Form Purchasing Pact
for Affordable PPE, Repeat Call for State Aid
State Guidelines Add More Costs to Reopening Schools
To prepare for the reopening of schools within the next 10 weeks, the Los Angeles Unified and San Diego Unified school districts announced a purchasing pact to save money on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other new requirements.
Even as the Governor and legislative leaders finalize the details around the state budget deal, California’s two largest districts again call on lawmakers to fully fund the costs for reopening schools in the fall. Implementing recently issued guidelines by the California Department of Education (CDE) could cost billions in additional school spending across the state.
“Schools across the state are working around the clock to plan for reopening because students must have the chance to continue their education,” said Superintendents Austin Beutner of Los Angeles and Cindy Marten of San Diego. “Unfortunately, last week the state published 55 pages of new guidelines on districts with no funding attached. Unless the funding needs are addressed comprehensively in the state budget, there is no way schools will be able to follow all the new recommended guidelines required for a safe, responsible reopening in the fall. It is inappropriate to pronounce public guidelines as recommended best practices and then leave districts without the necessary funding to implement them. Schools must be able to reassure parents, students and staff that their wellbeing is being addressed and these guidelines will now be viewed as a minimum threshold.”
All of the state’s school districts will face increased operational costs for as long as the global health emergency continues. Among the requirements outlined in the CDE document issued on June 8, are stringent physical distancing standards. These impact every aspect of the school experience from the school bus to the classroom and the cafeteria.
In order to prepare, Los Angeles and San Diego Unified plan to pool their purchasing power with regards to PPE and other reopening equipment. The alliance will save both time and money, according to Superintendents Beutner and Marten. “The clock is ticking and the new school year is now less than 10 weeks away,” the Superintendents said.
“We frankly do not want to spend a single dime on PPE when that money should be going toward the education of our students,” they said. “However, we do not have the luxury of waiting for the state to explain how they plan to fund the 55 pages they have issued for reopening. It is time for us to get on with the business of preparing the best that we can, and that is what we will do.”
This comes from recent firsthand knowledge for the two school leaders. Last month, Los Angeles Unified modified a recently negotiated Verizon contract to provide low-income students with internet services at home so that any school district in the state can access it and get the same low cost. Since March, both districts combined have provided more than 35 million meals to families in their communities. Every week they use more than 50,000 masks, gloves and protective supplies in order to safely deliver meals to the public following the CDC, state and local guidelines.
“The new CDE guidelines do not address the challenges schools will face and the concerns we have. These include the need for city and county public health officials fulfilling their responsibility to conduct the appropriate testing and contact tracing for students and staff,” said Superintendents Beutner and Marten.
While state officials recently announced state agencies will assist schools in procuring necessary PPE, supplies and equipment, no details have been provided on the timing and process for securing the equipment each district will need. County leaders in both respective school districts are also looking at ways to amass and supply PPE. Since it is not guaranteed either state or county support will be sufficient or arrive in time for the reopening of schools, purchasing staff from each district began meeting last week to explore possible solutions and outline a common purchasing strategy regarding PPE and other necessary materials.