Fresno Unified officials say the distance learning program provided to its 74,000 students starting just three weeks from now will be markedly different than the one in the final two months of the past school year. But details about what school will look like while students are learning virtually are...
Catholic Schools to Reopen? Diocesan Schools Chief to Seek Waivers
Students attending parochial schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fresno will start their school year next week just like their public school counterparts — online. All schools in Valley counties that are on the state's COVID-19 watchlist must remain closed as a result of a state mandate issued this...
Could Local Elementary Schools Reopen with Waiver from COVID-19 Closures?
Big Creek Elementary School sits high in the Sierra southwest of Huntington Lake and serves 56 students. Thus far, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 in the tiny community. So Big Creek might seem a likelier candidate than most schools to qualify for a waiver from Gov. Gavin...
Valley Children’s Head Doctor Warned of COVID-19 Risk in Reopening Schools
Valley Children's Healthcare chief medical officer Dr. David Christensen was blunt during a recent Zoom meeting with Fresno County school district officials and county health officials about reopening: Based on the current COVID-19 infection and hospitalization conditions, "now is not the time to risk it." Central Unified School District administrators...
Fresno Teachers Union: Schools Can’t Safely Reopen by Aug. 17, Teachers Shouldn’t Return
Fresno Unified School District schools can't reopen safely by Aug. 17, the district's teachers union says, because of rising coronavirus infection rates in the county and the need to maintain health and safety guidelines set by local, state, and federal health and education officials. "It is abundantly clear that we...
As COVID Shutdowns Expand, Will Area Schools Open Next Month?
Local school officials were huddling Monday to talk about how the latest COVID-19 closures ordered Monday by Gov. Gavin Newsom might impact back-to-school plans. Central Unified spokeswoman Sonja Dosti said Central Unified superintendent Andy Alvarado and other superintendents were conferring with Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Jim Yovino about preparing...
Face Masks, Temperature Checks When Valley Public Schools Reopen?
Students at California public schools might have to wear face masks and have their temperature taken each morning before they walk on campus, their classrooms might hold only 10 to 15 students, and they might be on campus only a couple of days each week. The need to keep students...