Town hall explains COVID daily pass

BY ANASTASIYA OREL Reporter

LACCD Chancellor Francisco Rodriguez and his district team held a two-day town hall webinar to address questions about school life regarding the pandemic, COVID testing and vaccinations.

Communications Director William Boyer started the Zoom meeting off by discussing the number of COVID cases throughout the LACCD.

“For the LACCD, we have not had a significant outbreak of more than three cases in a cluster since June of this year,”

Boyer said. “On October 3rd, LA county-wide reported another 32 cases in one day and in the last two months, we’ve only had a total of 39 positive onsite cases.”

Boyer said LA county is at almost 70% fully vaccinated and that the LA community is close to 80-85%.

Vice Chancellor Ryan

Cornner said the district is working on two administrative procedures, one for masking and the other for vaccination and testing procedures. The current procedures are being reviewed by the district’s collective bargaining groups and are expected to be posted sometime this week.

“Currently what our board policy states is that we have a vaccine mandate with baseline testing per the Chancellor’s direction, and then mandated regular testing,” Cornner said. “One of the questions that came up is ‘why does one have to baseline test if they are currently working completely remote’. That has been changed and addressed in the administrative procedure.”

Cornner said that the procedure delayed the baseline testing for those working remotely until the individuals have an assignment or task that brings them onto campus. He said there have been concerns about the impracticality of those working from home to have to come and test regularly on campus and that they will be addressed within the new administrative procedure.

“The other most common question that has come up is related to how we know whether or not students are following the process as it relates to vaccinations and testing,” Cornner said. “This is also in the administrative procedure but most of what happens is on the back end.

Cornner said BioCept is the provider of COVID testing and clearance for both students and faculty.

“All that data is inventoried and we’re able to query the system to see which students are following the regulations and which students are noncompliant,” Cornner said. “We are working with the college Vice President of Student Services to do an information campaign. They may even come into some of the classes and remind students that this is an obligation that is put on them.”

Human Resources officer Mercedes Gutierrez said that faculty have one of two choices: either submit a vaccination file, which needs to be cleared and authenticated through the board system, or apply for an exemption.

“We currently have approximately 144 requests for exemptions, most of them being religious exemptions,” Gutierrez said. “These are reviewed individually by human resources. In order for your exemption to be sustained, you are merely indicating your sincere religious belief to the vaccination requirement and how you do not believe in that component of it.” Gutierrez said that it is not an exemption for COVID testing or masking but instead you do not get vaccinated and/or submit a vaccination file,and you test regularly.

Chief Executive Vice Chancellor Rueben Smith said that the district has also been focusing their efforts on maintaining campus cleanliness and adequate indoor air quality, consistent with Cal OSHA and the Los Angeles County Health Department.