Los Angeles public schools, with one exception, will be open Monday pending worsening weather conditions, and parents and staff are urged to stay tuned for updates tonight and at 6 a.m., the superintendent said. Alberto Carvalho said Sunday afternoon.
An update posted on social media around 7 p.m. reiterated that schools would be open on Monday.
The decision was made in conjunction with city emergency officials, Carvalho said at a news conference with Mayor Karen Bass and others. Many Los Angeles Unified School District students rely on the school for weekday meals, a factor that also influenced his decision, Carvalho said.
“Considering the fact that our students depend on nutrition at school, we have made the decision at this time to keep our schools open until tomorrow,” he said, adding that “during the time our schools are open, students winds will subside.” .”
The exception is Vinedale Span School in Sun Valley, which is affected by city-ordered mandatory evacuations in the area. Students and staff from that school are supposed to report to nearby Glenwood Elementary School.
Carvalho said conditions will vary across the sprawling district and local decisions could vary. He left open the opportunity to change his mind, and parents should look for an update around 6am on Monday. The nation's second-largest school system typically contacts parents through an automated system that relies on text, phone and email, as well as through social media posts.
At least seven California State University system campuses — Fullerton, Los Angeles, Northridge, Dominguez Hills, Cal Poly Pomona, San Bernardino and Cal State Long Beach — announced variations of online classes and modified operations for Monday. Students and staff were advised to look at university websites for updates; Professors at several campuses were urged to contact students about classes.
UC Santa Barbara asked instructors to move Monday classes online or reschedule them and urged supervisors to allow staff to work remotely. The university was scheduled to resume normal operations on Tuesday.
USC and UCLA officials said Sunday night that the campuses will be open and classes will continue as usual.
Carvalho urged parents and employees to evaluate whether it was safe to travel to campuses and asked for patience on what could be a disruptive day.
“We are encouraging… parents to make the best decision based on the conditions around their homes and the established route from home to school. “We don’t want anyone to put themselves in harm’s way and that goes for our workforce,” she said.
Carvalho also warned of changes to bus routes that could cause delays.
“It's not going to be an easy day,” Carvalho said while standing with a group of city and county officials at the regional emergency operations center downtown.
His message contrasted with that of other officials, who simply urged people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.
The comments feed on the mayor's livestream was filled with questions about the wisdom of opening schools, just as it likely would have been filled with critical comments about campus closures if that had been the option.
On Sunday, parents and teachers also reported receiving messages informing them about online learning resources for students who remained at home.
Last August, the decision to close campuses ahead of Tropical Storm Hilary, which hit Los Angeles more lightly than expected, drew some criticism, especially when the weather led to a partly sunny Monday without classes. That anticlimax had put Carvalho on the defensive at the time, even though the storm caused notable damage elsewhere in the South.
Other districts and school institutions faced similar decisions.
In Santa Barbara County, all public schools and community colleges will be closed on Monday. Private schools will make their own decisions, said Adrienne Starr, a member of the local emergency operations team. Santa Maria Joint High School District officials said the decision was based “on the most recent data from the National Weather Service and the recommendation of Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown.”
Times staff writer Teresa Watanabe contributed to this report.
