Three More Private Schools Receive Waivers

Mayfield Junior School, International School of Los Angeles, and Pasadena Christian School have received waivers that allow PreK-2nd grade students to return to school, according to the city’s website. 

“Pasadena Christian School has been approved by the Pasadena Department of Health, and the State of California, to reopen for in-person learning for grades PreK-2nd ONLY,” administrators posted on the school’s website. “Currently, there are no updates as to when we can reopen for grades 3rd-8th.”

The news comes as a second wave of infections is forcing state and county officials to take more drastic steps to control the coronavirus.

It was not immediately known if those restrictions would invalidate the waivers. 

The Pasadena Unified School District had planned to open schools in December, but local Health Department officials are now telling educators to be prepared to continue distance learning.

Local health officials have been visiting area schools to provide hands-on consulting about the waivers.

All the schools have been warned that they could be forced to close again in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak. 

Other schools to receive approved waivers from the city Health Department include High Point Academy, Sequoyah School, Chandler School, St. Philip the Apostle School, and Polytechnic School. 

More schools expect to receive approved waivers over time. 

More information on the requirements and standards for reopening can be found at https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-health/return-to-school-waiver/#approved-school-waivers. 

In Pasadena, school waiver application components have been posted online for two months to allow schools to prepare for reopening.

“We expect to maintain an ongoing conversation with schools that have reopened under the waiver process so that we may continue to provide technical assistance and support,” city Health Department Director Dr. Ying-Ying Goh wrote in a letter announcing the waivers to local schools.

“As community conditions change and science evolves, we may require you to revise your application and/or reopening plan and update your posted documents,” Goh wrote.