Gov. Gavin Newsom and Assemblymember Phil Ting, D‐San Francisco, chair of the budget committee, said Tuesday they're close to a deal that could help reopen California elementary schools, which have been shuttered since March because of the pandemic.
Pressure has been mounting on lawmakers and school districts to bring kids back into classrooms. Some teachers unions have maintained that their members need to be vaccinated before schools can reopen for in-person instruction.
Speaking Tuesday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, at the unveiling of the state's latest large-scale vaccination site, Newsom said he thinks he can strike a balance between the safety of teachers and students and the need to bring them together, physically, in class.
“I’m committed to their safety. I’m committed to our kids’ education," Newsom said. "And I believe the best education is in-person education. And I believe for our youngest kids, it’s essential, particularly Black and brown kids, particularly kids with special needs."
Newsom said the agreement would include $6.6 billion in immediate funds to address learning loss and safety measures. He said he believes the state’s youngest children can safely return to school in small groups.
Ting said although there were still some "sticking points" to negotiate, he is "confident we will soon have an agreement that will pave the way for students to return to classrooms in some form this spring."