Free drive-through COVID-19 tests will be provided from Tuesday, April 14 through Saturday, May 9 at Baldwin Park Unified Adult and Community Education Center to Baldwin Park residents who exhibit symptoms of the illness or who have had contact with a person confirmed to have the illness. The tests are being provided through a partnership that includes Vital Medical Services, Baldwin Park Unified and the City of Baldwin Park.
Bonita Unified School District Board of Education Vice President Matt Lyons is resigning his seat effective April 16. Lyons was appointed to the Board in December 2017. His term runs through December 2020. He has served as vice president since December 2019.
Río Hondo College is serving hundreds of meals through a drive-through food pantry and is providing 400 Chromebooks to assist students, faculty and staff during the COVID-19 health crisis that forced a shift to online instruction and remote student services. The services are one piece of a massive expansion of student support launched by the College since shifting to online instruction on March 16. The College now provides online services across all student groups, including special programs structured for single mothers, economically disadvantaged students, former foster youth, veterans and others.
El Monte Union served 67,960 breakfast and lunch meals from three schools – Arroyo, El Monte and South El Monte – during the first three weeks of the school dismissal period¬, with officials committed to continuing the District’s successful nutrition program through the end of the 2019-20 school year. Acting on recommendation from state, county and public health officials, El Monte Union on March 13 initiated its dismissal period starting March 16 to limit the spread of COVID-19 and promote social distancing. The District has since extended the dismissal period for the remainder of the school year.
Tzu Chi, a local humanitarian organization and private school, donated 2,000 surgical masks and 1,000 portable hand sanitizers to the City of Monrovia on March 31, with a portion of the donation going to Monrovia Unified School District to ensure the continued safety of staff, students, and families. In addition to the masks and sanitizer, Tzu Chi also donated gloves and bottles of surface disinfectant.
West Covina Unified School District is aiding efforts to protect public health officials and curb the COVID-19 pandemic by donating 21,600 masks to Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center. The District delivered 20,000 medical face masks and 1,600 N-95 respirator masks to Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center on March 31.
Buena Park School District is continuing to boost positive behaviors and motivate students to achieve their dreams while building a welcoming community during at-home learning sessions with its new Virtual Spirit Days. The District’s first Virtual Spirit Day was started by Emery School’s Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) team to bring the school’s community together amid the temporary dismissal of in-person classes. The school challenged its students to dress in their favorite sports team’s jerseys or athletic gear and share their photos with the District.
Firebaugh High School English and IB Theatre teacher Kate Thomas Butiu has gone from camera shy to YouTube personality. Accompanied by her two teaching assistants, a pair of pit bulls, she leaves her students motivational messages, assignments and personal anecdotes. Thomas is among the Lynwood Unified educators who are embracing technology and channeling new ways to inspire learners amidst school closures that will extend to at least May 5 as the District works to protect the community from COVID-19.
Río Hondo College is providing a full menu of online services to ensure students – especially those most vulnerable and marginalized – receive the support they need while completing spring classes via online instruction. Services include remote counseling, online tutoring, financial aid assistance, psychological services, food pantry distribution, Chromebook loans, access to free Office 365 and internet, guidance for undocumented students, and access to local, community-based support.
