FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Superintendent Bob Nelson held a press conference Friday announcing it was closing schools due to COVID 19.
Fresno Unified School District is closing Monday, March 16th through April 13th due to the coronavirus.
The school district will be closing schools, including all early learning and adult school activities, as well.
The Fresno Unified School District now joins others up and down the state shutting temporarily due to COVID 19.
Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order ensuring CA public schools serve students in the event of a #COVID19 closure by:
đź’»Providing distance learning
🥪Providing school meals
⏰Arranging for supervision for students during school hours.
“Closing schools has a massive, cascading effect for our kids and their families – especially those least equipped financially to deal with them. The needs of California kids must be met regardless of whether their school is open or closed. School districts that choose to close must use state educational dollars to quickly meet the needs of children and families. The State of California is working around the clock to help those districts and provide best practices to ensure no kid is left behind,” said Governor Newsom.
Latest update from Fresno Unified:
We made the excruciatingly difficult decision to close our schools today through April 13th. Believe when I say the magnitude of that decision is not the least bit lost on me, and it came with extensive deliberation with every imaginable local constituency in the health and education sectors. Again, thank you for being patient through this completely unprecedented situation.
We will be meeting tomorrow (Saturday, March 14, 2020) make sure that our staff know what to expect over the next three weeks. You will be in paid status through this entire break, but we are working through the specifics and operational essentials tomorrow afternoon. Please stay connected for updates.
We have also established a COVID-19 Call Center. The Call Center is manned tonight until 8pm and from 8am-5pm both Saturday and Sunday.
Again, we’ll be working through the weekend to provide more updates and will keep you in the loop. Thanks again for your patience. For our families for whom this creates an undue hardship I offer my sincere apologies. Our intent is to put our children’s collective safety first and foremost and to slow the spread of disease in our Valley as testing is beginning in earnest. We are working to continue feeding our kids as well. More to come on that too…Thanks again. – Superintendent Bob Nelson.
Speaking at the FUSD’s Board Room to provide an update, Superintendent Nelson says the decision was not easy as he made the announcement.
“As a system, we’ve let families mitigate their own risk. If we believe that COVID 19 students are going to be identified, we want to be closed so we do not have any chance of placing our additional do not want this virus to be across the Valley. It is not right now, and that’s the way we intend to have it remain,” said Superintendent Nelson.
The Fresno Teachers Association sent a letter asking Fresno Unified to shut the schools.
The 310,000-member California Teachers Association sent out a press release Friday:
With the health and safety of our students, educators and all our families as our top priority, the California Teachers Association recommends closing all public schools in California to support the containment of the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). CTA also urges state leaders to support school districts, families and communities with the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Superintendent Nelson says they will reevaluate plans after the Spring Break recess.
“At current, we are keeping staff in paid status throughout the duration of this break. To that end, we expect staff to check in regularly as we figure out what the next two weeks are going to look like,” said Superintendent Nelson.
Nelson said they don’t know if the lost school days will be made up at the end of the year, and they will look to California Governor Gavin Newsom for more guidance.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
California Teachers Association
www.cta.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2020
California Educators Recommend Closing All Public Schools and Community Colleges; Urge State Leaders to Support Students and Families With Challenges of COVID-19 Pandemic
SACRAMENTO – With the health and safety of our students, educators and all our families as our top priority, the California Teachers Association recommends closing all public schools in California to support the containment of the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). CTA also urges state leaders to support school districts, families and communities with the challenges posed by COVID-19.
“The health and safety of our students, educators and all their families are our top priority as we grapple with this rapidly changing situation and the spread of COVID-19. We know these are not easy decisions and there are many ramifications. To protect students and educators, we believe closing all public schools and community colleges would be one of the safest measures to help mitigate further spreading of the virus right now,” said E. Toby Boyd, president of the California Teachers Association.
Along with other state education organizations, CTA is specifically asking state leaders to: hold districts harmless from any financial penalties for loss of instructional days; provide support to allow meal service to continue to students during the closures, suspend all state testing this year; provide support for custodial services and staff; and provide additional support for school nurses and counselors. Read this letter from the Education Coalition for more details.
CTA also supports measures to help workers and families as we deal with the crisis in our communities, including additional sick leave days and paid time off for those who do not sick leave days; unemployment waivers and paid family leave for COVID-19 illnesses; eliminating economic barriers for COVID-19 testing; and internet access for students while at home.
“Sadly, in many ways, this pandemic is showcasing some of the challenges we face in our schools every day. The lack of adequate nurses and counselors to assist our students is a constant struggle. We know many districts right now are struggling with having adequate cleaning supplies. And when schools do close, we must also have plans to support students, educators and families throughout that process,” said Boyd. “We appreciate the Governor’s leadership and quick action at this critical time when Californians need it most. The magnitude and severity of the pandemic is already impacting everyone, while the long-term impacts are really unknown.”
CTA supports the recent waiver the California Department of Education received to continue feeding students during school closures and the Governor’s actions to waive the one week waiting period for unemployment insurance and state disability insurance. CTA and National Education Association also support the COVID relief package proposed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that includes funds for emergency paid sick leave, free coronavirus testing, and food assistance for seniors and vulnerable children and families.
CTA is providing multiple resources for educators, students and families at www.cta.org/covid-19. CTA urges educators, students and their families to follow the sound guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health and believes state and local officials should coordinate with school districts and county offices of education to ensure uniform messages are provided to students, families, and staff.
“It is our collective responsibility to do our part to minimize the spread of this disease. Each one of our actions, whether proactive or careless, will affect those around us especially the elderly and those among us with underlying health conditions. Please take the necessary steps to become familiar with the preventative measures such as effective health and safety practices. We owe it to each other,” concluded Boyd.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Governor’s Press Office
Friday, March 13, 2020
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued an executive order ensuring California public school districts retain state funding even in the event of physical closure. The order directs school districts to use those state dollars to fund distance learning and high quality educational opportunities, provide school meals and, as practicable, arrange for the supervision for students during school hours.
“Closing schools has a massive, cascading effect for our kids and their families – especially those least equipped financially to deal with them. The needs of California kids must be met regardless of whether their school is open or closed. School districts that choose to close must use state educational dollars to quickly meet the needs of children and families. The State of California is working around the clock to help those districts and provide best practices to ensure no kid is left behind,” said Governor Newsom.
“I applaud Governor Newsom for the action in his Executive Order to provide schools with the tools they need to continue providing students with high quality education while keeping them safe. This allows schools to put safety first without jeopardizing the financial resources needed to meet the needs of our students. The California Department of Education looks forward to working closely with Governor Newsom and educators from across the state to provide guidance for addressing critical education issues such as providing students with meals and insuring the delivery of needed services and supports to students with disabilities,” said California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
The order provides that even if schools close temporarily because of COVID-19, school districts must:
• Continue delivering high-quality educational opportunities to students through other options, distance learning and independent study;
• Safely provide school meals through the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Option, consistent with the requirements of the California Department of Education and U.S. Department of Agriculture;
• To the extent practicable, arrange for supervision for students during ordinary school hours
• Continue to pay employees.
The full executive order can be viewed here.
State Efforts to Assist California Workers
California will continue acting swiftly to help workers hurt by COVID-19. Affected workers can visit the Labor & Workforce Development Agency’s website to review what benefits are available to them. For instance,
• If you’re unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 you may qualify for Paid Family Leave (PFL).
• If you’re unable to work due to medical quarantine or illness, you may qualify for Disability Insurance. Those who have lost a job or have had their hours reduced for reasons related to COVID-19 may be able to partially recover their wages by filing an unemployment insurance claim.
• If a worker or a family member is sick or for preventative care when civil authorities recommend quarantine, workers may use accrued paid sick leave in accordance with the law.
• If workers are unable to do their usual job because they were exposed to and contracted COVID-19 during the regular course of their work, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. All information and resources can be found at Labor.Ca.Gov/Coronavirus2019
All Community Guidance Released from CDPH:
The California Department of Public Health has consolidated state guidance on how to prepare and protect Californians from COVID-19 in a single location. This includes guidance for:
• Health care facilities, including long-term care facilities
• Community care facilities, including assisted living facilities and child care
• Schools and institutions of higher education
• First responders, including paramedics and EMTs
• Employers, health care workers and workers in general industry
• Health care plans
• Home cleaning with COVID-19 positive individuals
• Gathering Guidance
• Guidance for Using Disinfectants at Schools and Child Cares
• Laboratories
• Health care facilities from Cal/OSHA
• Homelessness Providers
What to Do if You Think You’re Sick:
Call ahead: If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and may have had contact with a person with COVID-19, or recently traveled to countries with apparent community spread, call your health care provider or local public health department first before seeking medical care so that appropriate precautions can be taken.
California’s Response to COVID-19:
We have been actively and extensively planning with our local public health and health care delivery systems. Here are some of the things we are already doing:
• The Governor has signed an executive order further enhancing California’s ability to respond to the pandemic. The order directs residents to follow public health directives and guidance, including to cancel large non-essential gatherings that do not meet state criteria; waives the one-week waiting period for people who are unemployed and/or disabled as a result of COVID-19; and readies the state to commandeer property for temporary residences and medical facilities for quarantining, isolating or treating individuals, among other things.
• As in any public health event, the California Department of Public Health’s Medical and Health Coordination Center has been activated and is coordinating public health response efforts across the state.
• California continues to prepare and respond in coordination with federal and local partners, hospitals and physicians.
• Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state prepare for broader spread of COVID-19.
• Governor Gavin Newsom requested the Legislature make up to $20 million available for state government to respond to the spread of COVID-19.
• California activated the State Operations Center to its highest level to coordinate response efforts across the state.
• 24 million more Californians are now eligible for free medically necessary COVID-19 testing.
• California made available some of its emergency planning reserves of 21 million N95 filtering face piece masks for use in certain health care settings to ease shortages of personal protective equipment.
• The Public Health Department is providing information, guidance documents, and technical support to local health departments, health care facilities, providers, schools, universities, colleges, and childcare facilities across California
• The California Employment Development Department (EDD) is encouraging individuals who are unable to work due to exposure to COVID-19 to file a Disability Insurance claim.
• EDD is also encouraging employers who are experiencing a slowdown in their businesses or services as a result of the Coronavirus impact on the economy to apply for an Unemployment Insurance work sharing program.
• California continues to work in partnership with the federal government to aid in the safe return of 962 Californians from the Grand Princess cruise ship. This mission is centered around protecting the health of the passengers, and ensuring that when the passengers disembark, the public health of the United States, the State of California, and partner communities is protected.
• The Public Health Department is coordinating with federal authorities and local health departments that have implemented screening, monitoring and, in some cases quarantine of returning travelers.
• In coordination with the CDC, state and local health departments, we are actively responding to cases of COVID-19.
• The Public Health Department is supporting hospitals and local public health laboratories in the collection of specimens and testing for COVID-19.
The California Department of Public Health’s state laboratory in Richmond and 18 other public health department laboratories now have tests for the virus that causes COVID-19. Eighteen of them are currently conducting tests, with the others coming online soon.
For more the most up to date information on COVID-19 and California’s response, visit the CDPH website.
