Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Andrés E. Chait kicked off his first “back-to-school” day at dawn in Van Nuys, where he greeted school bus drivers before visiting multiple school sites across the district.
From there, Chait and other school officials went to Gledhill Street Elementary School in North Hills, where LA Rams cheerleaders greeted students and parents. Next, he met with students in their classrooms at Reseda Charter High School to discuss how the school is raising the bar on academic achievements.
The superintendent’s last stop in the valley was at North Valley Occupational Center, which offers adult and career education programs in Van Nuys, including an aviation maintenance class.
Chait spent the rest of the day stopping by a variety of other locations, including the Barack Obama Global Preparation Academy in South Los Angeles, and the Benjamin Banneker Career and Transition Center in Compton.
While the first day of school is usually an exciting day to enthusiastically “ring the bell,” the start of the new school year has a dark cloud for scores of parents in the largely Latino school district.
In response to many parents’ concerns about possible immigration enforcement activities near LAUSD schools, the district released the following statement:
“Los Angeles Unified stands united in promoting the educational rights of every student and family during this period of heightened immigration enforcement.
“Working closely with city leaders and municipal partners, we have strengthened safety measures at and around our schools. This includes enhanced communication with various entities, visible presence in impacted communities, and rapid-response protocols should enforcement activity occur. …
“We will never ask about or share a student’s immigration status unless required by law, and we are committed to maintaining safe zones around our schools.
For students who may need additional support, including individualized transportation or busing services, we encourage families to contact their school directly. We also offer our Virtual Academy, where students can access high-quality education through an individualized approach based on their interests online. Finally, we have protocols in place to coordinate with partners who can provide legal support to the student and their family.
“Our message is clear: every child belongs in school, and we will do everything in our power to keep our campuses safe, supportive and welcoming for all.”