Just before students departed for their annual three-week winter recess, LAUSD announced that it would no longer be necessary for students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The district also released new requirements for the return to school.

One of the biggest changes to health protocol is that teachers and staff will now be required to wear high-grade surgical masks instead of cloth masks, as well as not having to be fully vaccinated in the new semester. 

“Staff will be wearing medical-grade masks,” said Principal Cynthia Headrick. “No bandanas or buffs. The first few weeks will be a slow start,” she said.

It was previously required that all students be fully vaccinated by the start of the spring semester or else they would be disenrolled from LAUSD in-person schools. 

However, with this mandate being pushed back, new policies have been instated as well. 

Now, proof of vaccination will be required for enrollment by the Fall 2022 semester. 

“COVID-19 cases are spiking again, so the students who were relying on the vaccine mandate to feel safe will no longer get that security,” said senior Ranee Jayne Sy. 

The district also pushed back the mandate because of the number of students that remain unvaccinated since transferring them to the City of Angels.

“I don’t think it was the smart move,” Sy said. “It’ll only make it harder for us to achieve herd immunity.”

While students may return to school while being unvaccinated, they were required to get a baseline (negative) COVID-19 test to return to campus on Jan.11th. 

Students and their families can make a COVID-19 test appointment here.