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.”
Sachi Hwangbo, parent of two students at Palo Alto High School, said the news that schools will be physically closed through at least May was not surprising, though it was disappointing.
The parent of a 9th-grader and a 12th-grader, Hwangbo said public health officials are simply acting responsibly and understand that the main priority is to slow the spread of coronavirus.
“I’m not too stressed out about it and neither are my kids,” Hawngbo said. “They’re just going with the flow and it seems like the teachers and staff at school are really trying to get ahead to where they can keep learning and not fall behind. Opening school back up is going to be the biggest challenge.”
Parent Teacher Association President for Palo Alto schools Jade Chao said parents and teachers in her organization were “not caught off guard.” She said PTA leaders at 17 schools have been in contact since the onset of the coronavirus’ foothold in the Bay Area.
“We have been and will continue to work in parallel with our school district and school principals,” Chao said, adding that the organization’s main focus are families in need of meals, assistance with online learning and home support. “We are in good shape because of dedicated and organized moms and dads. We have many local resources and networks to help parents and families pivot to meet the containment and migitation efforts on COVID-19.”
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