Superintendent: Coronavirus likely to keep schools shuttered for academic year
SACRAMENTO – California schools are likely to remain closed for the rest of the academic year as the fight to contain the novel coronavirus continues, the state superintendent of public instruction told local officials Tuesday.
“Due to the current safety concerns and needs for ongoing social distancing it currently appears that our students will not be able to return to school campuses before the end of the school year,” state Superintendent Tony Thurmond wrote in a letter released to local school districts.
“This is in no way to suggest that school is over for the year,” he continued, “but rather we should put all efforts into strengthening our delivery of education through distance learning.”
Thurmond acknowledged that the extended closure could create hardships for some students, families and educators.
“However, we are urging a safety first approach out of an abundance of caution,” he said. “As such, we urge that all school districts in California move towards and/or continue to strengthen their distance learning programs and opportunities for students.”
Things are still in wait-and-see mode for the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, which educates high school students in Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga and neighboring communities.
“I think we, all of us, are just waiting to see what’s going to happen. We won’t make that decision in isolation in San Bernardino County,” Superintendent Mat Holton said Tuesday.
In the meantime, students are home, as are nearly all staff members, and the district’s online instruction program is underway.
“It’s going as smooth as it can,” Holton said. “Obviously our first priority is to make sure that our staff and our students are safe.”
Long Beach Unified School District spokesman Chris Eftychiou noted on March 20 that the district had said an extension past May 3 – its potential return date – was possible.
“Our school district will continue to make these decisions in close consultation with partnering agencies, including health agencies and the Los Angeles County Office of Education,” he said Tuesday.
Check back for updates.
from https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Orange County Register https://ift.tt/344p1Rs
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