Most school districts in Southern California, including Los Angeles Unified, the nation’s second-largest, planned to keep most classes open Monday, officials said, even as the state grappled with heavy rain, flooding and mudslides.
Many students depend on schools for basic nutrition, Los Angeles Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said at a news conference Sunday, explaining why he decided not to close most of the district. The impact of wind and rain will also vary greatly by neighborhood, he said, meaning many schools won’t be as badly affected.
On Monday morning, Los Angeles Unified said winds were expected to ease in the morning, citing that as a reason for schools to remain open.
Los Angeles Unified has more than 400,000 students in more than 700 schools across the district. At least one, Vinedale College Preparatory Academy in Sun Valley, will be closed because it is in a mandatory evacuation zone. These students will report to a different school, according to the district.
A flash flood warning was in effect for more than 85,000 people in Los Angeles County and Ventura County as of 9 a.m. in the Pacific on Monday, the National Weather Service announced.
Other areas in Southern California, including Santa Monica-Malibu, Long Beach and San Diego, also had not announced plans to close as of early Monday morning.
The Long Beach Unified School District said on social media that it will trim trees and remove debris from roofs to “eliminate potential hazards.” He also asked parents to prioritize safety and allow more time for drop-off and pick-up.
Santa Barbara Unified Schools, a smaller district north of Los Angeles, was closed Monday as a precaution, officials said. “This decision prioritizes the safety and well-being of our students and staff during potentially hazardous weather conditions,” the school district said in a statement.
