Dr. Ben Drati, Superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, recently contracted the deadly coronavirus.
Reports of the diagnosis first popped up Monday night on social media and were confirmed to The Sun hours later by SMMUSD spokesperson, Gail Pinsker.
“Dr. Drati received a contact tracing alert that he may have been exposed to Covid-19 and immediately got tested,” Pinsker said.
“He tested positive and completed his quarantine on July 31. He was never sick and is fully vaccinated.
“He asked that I let you know so you may express to the community that he is happy that the vaccine is effective and pleads that all who are able should get vaccinated.”
It is unclear where or exactly when Drati, 49, contracted the virus or if it was the new and quickly spreading Delta variant.
The news of Drati’s health scare comes just days after he recommended the Board of Education approve mandatory vaccinations for all SMMUSD staff, mandatory mask wearing for students and staff during outdoor recess and mandatory weekly covid testing for all students and staff this fall.
“With all of these measures in place, we — district leaders responsible for the safety and well-being of our students and staff — believe that our students and staff will be safe and protected to the best of our ability, and we will be able to maximize teaching and learning,” he said in an email to parents on Saturday.
A special meeting to discuss the measures will be held tonight.
SMMUSD schools reopen on August 19.
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