Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Nick Melvoin recently volunteered at a Grab & Go food distribution site at Helen Bernstein High School in Hollywood. (photo courtesy of LAUSD Board Member Nick Melvoin’s office)

At 8 a.m. on Monday, I was at Webster Middle School in West L.A., but not, of course, to check in on classes or students. Although it’s only been five weeks since the Los Angeles Unified School District closed schools, the world, and L.A. Unified, look a lot different.

But our core mission of educating kids and supporting our community remains unchanged. And that’s why I was at Webster, visiting one of our Grab & Go food centers to see how things were going for the volunteers and families they’re serving.

Our first priority when schools closed was getting 63 Grab & Go food centers up and running – including one at Bernstein High School in Hollywood – that have served over 10 million meals. The LAUSD is running the largest food bank in the country. All of the Grab & Go centers are open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m., with meals available to anyone in need.

Another new routine has been joining Zoom calls with parents, teachers and even students to discuss the transition to distance learning. To ensure every student had equitable access to the materials needed to connect and continue learning, an emergency investment of $100 million was made in devices and mobile hotspots.

Luckily, some schools had less of a hurdle getting devices into kids’ hands because my office funded new instructional technology through a bond grant program over the past two years – including Chromebook carts at Cheremoya and Gardner elementary schools, and Bancroft and Le Conte middle schools.

But this crisis has exposed more than just the digital divide and we’re doing our best to provide needed resources to children and families.

Visit achieve.lausd.net/resources or call the COVID-19 family hotline (213)443-1300 for a list of resources and services available for students, families and employees during this time. Those who want to help can donate by visiting lastudentsmostinneed.org. The district has also launched a Mental Health hotline at (213)241-3840.

I also have been hosting regular virtual conversations with leaders, experts and parents, and so far, conversations have been about fostering resilience and supporting the earliest learners. The public can join every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. by visiting facebook.com/nick.melvoin.

Every family should have access to a great education, even while staying home. You don’t have to look further than your own neighborhoods to know it’s possible. Teachers and staff at Vine Street Elementary have been meeting on Zoom to share best practices, learn from each other and develop learning plans. Fairfax High has been distributing devices to make sure every student gets connected. Melrose Avenue Elementary has moved its “Coffee with the Principal” meetings to Zoom. And, we’ve helped facilitate local partnerships to provide meal deliveries and headphones to minimize learning distractions.

We are all doing our best to adapt to an ever-evolving situation. No amount of technology can match a “typical” day at school, but we will continue working tirelessly, thinking creatively and providing support to get our kids, families and school communities through this crisis together, but apart.

-LAUSD Board Member Nick Melvoin