February 18, 2021
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (“SMMUSD”) and the Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association (“SMMCTA”), collectively known as “the Parties,” have reached an agreement on the implementation of Distance Learning Plus (“DL+”).
On December 17, 2020, the Board of Education approved and gave direction to staff to implement DL+ at such time as schools are authorized by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (“LADPH”) to reopen for in-person/on-site instruction. The agreement reflects agreement by the Parties regarding implementation of DL+.
The agreement reflects that the DL+ model includes bringing students to school sites for on-site/in-person activities while continuing effective remote distance learning. The agreement seeks to balance having on-site/in-person academic, physical and social-emotional learning experiences, while not disadvantaging students who remain at home.
SMMUSD will implement DL+ at such time when the following conditions have been satisfied:
- Fifteen (15) days from when the LADPH has begun phase 1b vaccines for Education and Childcare, and
- The additional criteria have been met:
- For grades TK – 5, the adjusted case rate in Los Angeles County is below 25 cases per 100,000 population per day, for five (5) consecutive days
- For grades 6 – 12, when Los Angeles County reaches the “Red Tier.”
This agreement is an addendum (#8) to a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) signed by the Parties on August 7, 2020. SMMUSD and SMMCTA continue to utilize its interest-based process that has produced seven (7) prior addendums to the original MOU regarding reopening activities authorized by LADPH.
The negotiating teams express their gratitude to the teachers, staff and members of the community who provided input regarding how DL+ could be implemented. Site principals will continue to work with their School Leadership Teams and Faculty Advisor Committees to prepare plans consistent with the agreement, which will be shared with parents. The agreement is linked below.
Addendum #8 – Distance Learning Plus
Dr. Mark Kelly, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources
Ms. Sarah Braff, President, SMMCTA
