Los Angeles Unified School District threw open its doors Monday morning, bringing back about half a million students and staff members. But some middle and high school students waited up to an hour and a half in line before they could even enter their classrooms.
A long line formed outside Normont Elementary School in Harbor City as students waited to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test on their Daily Pass app. The web app allows LAUSD students to do a daily health check, book COVID-19 tests and receive test results and messages. Students also waited to have their temperatures checked.
But Daily Pass glitches kept students across the district waiting longer than expected.
“I think there were just so many people logging on at once, and they just couldn’t get access. It couldn’t work when that many parents and kids were logging on at the same time,” said Jenny Hontz with the parents' advocacy group Speak Up.
“It was obvious there were going to be glitches and there were glitches. I hope, and all parents hope, that they work them out quickly.”
Interim Superintendent Megan K. Reilly said the district will work to improve Daily Pass in the coming days.
“People were understanding about what was occurring. The Daily Pass was slow, but we’re working with the people about the volume. I think the volume of students coming back has been really a gratifying thing,” said Reilly.
Despite the glitches, Reilly said there is a positive attitude among teachers, parents and students who understand the need for multiple layers of health protocols.
“No one is 100 percent effective, so all of them together, especially for our youngest, makes this a safe environment for kids to come back,” she said.
Parents and staff outside of Normont Elementary School in Harbor City and the early education center next door were excited to get students back in classrooms.
“I already woke up just really enthusiastic and ready to see the children,” said a teacher at the early education center.
Among the excitement was some hesitation related to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in L.A. County.
“It’s exciting for parents, for some of the little kids. But at the same time it’s a little scary,” said one woman.
More than 12,000 kids in the district opted to stay with online studies for now.
In addition to LAUSD, eight districts in Orange County and five more in L.A. County returned to in-person learning Monday.
Many students at John Burroughs High School in the Burbank Unified School District jumped out of their parents’ cars already masked up.
“I know my daughter had a little bit of a hard time this morning , but she’ll get through it. I told her the nursing station is right there if you don’t feel [well],” said a parent dropping his daughter off Monday morning.
“It looks like the school has a lot of support, so we’ll move forward. C'est la vie.”
For students ages 12 and up, which includes most of the students at John Burroughs, proof of vaccination is required. Younger students can provide proof of a weekly negative COVID-19 test.