S A N TA M O N I C A
REFLECTING THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY smmirror.com
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CARDBOARD YACHT REGATTA RETURNS TO THE ANNENBERG COMMUNITY BEACH HOUSE PAGE 4
August 13 – August 19, 2021 Volume XCXI, Issue 106
Santa Monica-Malibu School District to Require Vaccinations for Teachers, Universal Masking for All SMMUSD school board takes action in response to spread of Delta variant By SaM CataNZarO
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) will require faculty and staff to be vaccinated while mandating students and staff to wear masks both indoors and outdoors. During an August 10 special meeting, the SMMUSD school board passed two resolutions in response to the COVID-19 delta variant, requiring vaccinations for all employees and universal indoor and outdoor masking. “As superintendent, If I err, I must err on the side of ensuring that we have been overly cautious and health-protective, not that we have fallen short and taken unnecessary risks in the face of this new delta variant,” said Dr. Ben Drati, Superintendent in a statement. “Like many parents, I feel sad that
we must implement these measures in order to best ensure the continuation of in-person instruction for this school year. We are making the best of an unfortunate scenario.” According to the resolution dealing with vaccinations, all SMMUSD employees must report their COVID-19 vaccination status to the District by August 19, 2021. Then by October 1, 2021, employees will be allowed on District campuses or facilities only if they are fully vaccinated and have submitted documentation, or have obtained an exemption. “Unvaccinated employees assigned to work on campus will be excluded from campus and deemed absent without leave, unless a District-authorized exemption or other accommodation has been obtained by an employee,” reads the resolution. “Employees may request an exemption or accommodation based on religious grounds, or on the basis that a disability, medical condition, or mental health condition prevents vaccination, testing, and/or the wearing of the mask. The Superintendent, or designee, shall establish a process for consideration of such requests on an individualized basis.” Any employee receiving an exemption or
Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica.
accommodation shall be required to undergo COVID-19 testing twice a week.
Photo: Sam Catanzaro
In addition, the resolution states that all
SMMUSD, see page 9
Pedestrian Killed in Main Street Traffic Collision
Fatal traffic collision occurs at Main and Ashland in Santa Monica early Saturday morning
By SaM CataNZarO A pedestrian was killed in a traffic collision on Main Street in Santa Monica over the weekend. The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) reported the incident took place Saturday around 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of Main Street and Ashland Avenue. The collision involved a solo vehicle and female
pedestrian. “The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with officers. The unidentified victim was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries,” said SMPD Lieutenant Rudy Flores. According to Flores, the driver was not arrested, was not impaired and no charges are being filed. Flores noted “that the pedestrian was outside of a crosswalk.”
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner has not yet released the identity of the victim. The incident marked the second pedestrian to succumb to injuries sustained in a Santa Monica traffic collision in less than a week. On August 2, a man was killed after being hit by a drunk driver in front of a sports bar. The driver in this incident was later charged with murder.
Photo: Getty