As coronavirus cases in the central San Joaquin Valley approached 200, Fresno Unified officials closed their campuses - where some 74,000 students attend class - for the rest of the school year to help stem the tide of COVID-19 in the Valley.

“This is not an educational crisis. This is a public health crisis,” Superintendent Bob Nelson said. “But nevertheless, we have a responsibility.”

Clovis Unified trustees said their roughly 40,000 students would aim to return to classrooms May 4 - but acknowledged that was unlikely.

The votes to extend closures came late Wednesday during the first-ever online-only school board meetings for both districts.

All seven trustees unanimously supported Fresno’s vote to close.

Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas said it was in the best interest of the safety of students and the community to stay closed for the rest of the school year.

“I’m extremely saddened at how this is tearing up families apart, this is tearing up communities,” she said. “We’re talking about thousands and thousands of people falling really ill or worse, dying because of this ... Against the backdrop of this being life and death, I don’t think I can make any other choice but to close the school until the end of the school year.”

Officials in Clovis acknowledged students might not return to classrooms before the fall, but said they were holding out hope for graduating seniors to attend commencement ceremonies.

“We’re supposed to have eight graduations,” Clovis Superintendent Eimear O’Farrell said. “We don’t want to misrepresent the reality of the situation, but we want our kids to know that we feel it’s a little premature to make that decision at this point.”

Several Clovis Unified trustees on Wednesday said they are still hoping students can return to classrooms in weeks instead of months.

“There’s a possibility God may hear the prayers of our students and our faculty and our nation. And there may be a healing come about,” said Trustee Steven Fogg.

Fogg also said the district soon “may have to make a different decision.”

“And I’m perfectly comfortable with that,” he said. “But until that time, we need to continue to have that faith, that prayer, that guide, and plan on starting again.

The votes came as no surprise following statements earlier this week from Gov. Gavin Newsom and state schools Superintendent Tony Thurmond that California’s more than 6 million public school students likely won’t return to campuses until the fall.

Thurmond this week sent out a letter to superintendents urging educators to transition quickly to online learning.

“This is in no way to suggest that school is over for the year,” Thurmond continued. “But rather, we should put all efforts into strengthening our delivery of education through distance learning.”

The letter wasn’t an order. Some school districts can choose to reopen. A day later, Newsom echoed Thurmond’s assessment.

Fresno Teachers Association officials called the governor’s remarks “necessary.”

“This is a community lift and will take effort from district leadership, educators, and the community to give the best possible learning opportunities while simultaneously addressing technology, internet access, and other inequities as they arise,” FTA President Manuel Bonilla said in a statement.

Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Jim Yovino sent a letter out to all superintendents on Tuesday “strongly” recommending districts to close for the remainder of the year.

“I know this is not what any of us had hoped, but it’s the best and most prudent decision we can make for the well being of our country,” the letter said. “I would also encourage you to remind all of your staff, faculty, students and families that school is not ‘out.’ This is not a break; only a site closure for students.”

Central, Visalia, Selma, and Washington Unified school districts all extended their closures until at least May 4.

Madera County schools on Thursday also said their schools would remain shuttered the rest of the school year.

Officials from the Merced City School District and Merced Union High officials also confirmed their campuses would remain closed for the rest of the school year.

One Valley school remains open

Almost all schools in California have closed, but a small district in Tulare County remained open this week.

Outside Creek Elementary School, a rural school with about 100 kids, continues holding classes on campus, despite urging residents to shelter in place from local and state education and health officials.

The school will be closed next week during its scheduled spring break, but Superintendent Derrick Bravo hasn’t responded to questions if the school will remain open after the break.

Bravo also hasn’t responded to questions about whether students and staff on campus are practicing social distancing.

About one-third of Outside Creek students are going to school, Tulare County Superintendent of School Tim Hire said in an email to The Bee this week. The rest of the students are staying home for independent study.

“I have recommended they close, but I have no authority to direct a closure,” Hire said.

The California Department of Education also recommended all schools in the state close.

“In order to fully comply with the Governor’s “stay home” order and social distancing guidelines, we would advise that all schools be closed to students at this time,” officials told The Bee March 24.

Only a tiny handful of public schools remained open this week, Newsom said.

“The rest will likely start to shut down,” Newsom said. “Again, we wanted to make sure that learning is still occurring, distancing learning, online learning.”

In a TV Interview on Tuesday, Rep. Devin Nunes called the decision to close all California schools for the rest of the year “way overkill.” He said he wants people to return to school in the next two weeks.

Public health officials have said they expect Fresno-area cases to surge in the coming weeks. Valley officials are bracing for difficulties and scrambling for solutions for an area that doesn’t have enough doctors and a population that is particularly vulnerable to severe outcomes from the coronavirus.

The Education Lab is a local journalism initiative that highlights education issues critical to the advancement of the San Joaquin Valley. It is funded by donors. Learn about The Bee’s Education Lab on our website.

This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 9:03 PM.