The Los Angeles Unified School District School Board on Tuesday approved a working agreement with its teachers’ union for a return to traditional in-person teaching for the 2021-2022 school year.

United Teachers Los Angeles said Thursday that after three days of voting, its members overwhelmingly approved the proposed deal, with 94% voting in favor.

Without comment, the school board unanimously approved the pact on Tuesday.

“With the approval of this agreement, schools in Los Angeles will have critical COVID safety protocols in place as we welcome students into the joys of full-time in-person learning,” said the president of the UTLA Cecily Myart-Cruz last week.

“The pandemic has challenged students, families and educators in unimaginable ways, but it has also sparked innovation and taught us lasting lessons about the healing power of public education. Educators are committed to meeting our students where they are and to creating the healthy, healing, equitable schools that our students and their families deserve. “

The agreement between the union and the district includes standards for continued COVID-19 testing, mask wear and other safety protocols.

Superintendent Austin Beutner sent a letter to district employees on June 10 saying the district’s goal is to educate students “in the safest environment possible, and we are giving schools the resources to make it happen.”

Beutner said teachers were being added on all campuses and the district “will not be moving any teachers to school sites this coming school year.”

“Teachers will be able to stay in their current schools, and students, school staff and families will all benefit,” he wrote. “This continuity in schools will help strengthen a sense of community while providing the best possible academic basis for students.

“We have agreements in place with all of our union partners for the 2021-2022 school year that reflect a renewed sense of trust and collaboration to help in the work ahead. We are proud of the extraordinary things accomplished over the past year and appreciate your tireless efforts which made them possible. “

Beutner announced a few weeks ago that in-person on-campus instruction would be offered to all students in the fall, although an online option will remain for those who cannot or choose not to return to class. .

Beutner insisted the district implemented “the highest set of safety standards of any school district in the country” to protect against COVID-19 as campuses welcome students again this spring, highlighting improved air filtration systems, sanitation efforts and numerous supplies of protective equipment.

Among the provisions of the agreement with the UTLA are the requirement to test for COVID-19 at least every two weeks and to maintain a public “dashboard” to report all positive cases.

The agreement also provides for mandatory symptom screening of all students, staff and visitors entering a school site, as well as continued physical distancing requirements and the mandatory wearing of masks – provided by the district.

The agreement also provides for regular cleaning and replacement, as needed, of classroom air filters.

For students who choose to stick with online learning, the agreement provides for elementary students to have three hours of live daily instruction in addition to assigned freelance work. High school students will have three 75-minute periods per day with at least 40 minutes of live instruction per period, as well as assigned independent work.

The agreement also provides that all school sites have a working group on COVID-19 compliance.