L.A. Unified to keep indoor mask mandate for now

Los Angeles Unified is working with labor partners and stakeholders to transition away from its indoor mask mandate, the district announced Friday. LAUSD met Friday with United Teachers Los Angeles to negotiate health and safety protocols. Per UTLA’s agreement with the district, any changes to the indoor mask mandate must be negotiated between both the district and UTLA. 

Negotiation comes as California ends its indoor mask mandate for K-12 schools across the state Saturday and follows LAUSD’s end to outdoor masking requirements last month —  the first major decision made under Superintendent Alberto Carvalho since starting his new position.

Since February, Carvalho has indicated that the district would continue to adhere to the advice of medical experts over Covid-19 protocols. In an interview with EdSource last month, he said he expected masking requirements to loosen “going into the summer” and said the district would come forward with thresholds and indicators by which future Covid-19 protocols would be based.

“We ought to maintain nimbleness — the ability of our district to pivot quickly … which is what are the best indicators, the best thresholds and the best data that we follow,” he told EdSource in late February.