Nationwide, the start of the 2021-22 school year has been tumultuous. With continued controversy surrounding vaccine and testing mandates, the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) is grappling with how to keep both students and staff safe. Since school began on Aug. 13, four students and one staff member have tested positive for COVID-19, the district confirmed on Aug. 19. “None are epidemiologically linked,” Rebecca Starkins, Director of Public Relations at BHUSD, told the Courier. “We are pleased that our thorough immediate testing schedule has shown that all close contacts are negative.” At the Aug. 17 City Council Study Session, council members pressed BHUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Bregy on how positive cases on campus are addressed, whether the district would require all eligible students and staff be vaccinated against COVID-19, and testing requirements.
Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California would require all teachers and school staff to be vaccinated or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing. This week, Culver City Unified School District made headlines, becoming the first public school to extend vaccine directives to students. “We are mandating vaccines for all eligible staff and students,” the district announced on Twitter on Aug. 17. “We will begin gathering vaccine status data immediately. The deadline for providing the proof of vaccine is Friday, November 19, 2021, to give everyone the opportunity to make their vaccine plans.”
