Fresno school leaders say parents have until the end of July to decide whether to send their children back to campuses in the fall or enroll them exclusively in online learning courses.

Speaking at a news conference Thursday, Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson said if parents don’t enroll their children for online learning by July 31, they will automatically be enrolled in on-campus classes.

Fresno schools are not offering a so-called “hybrid” model that would allow students to switch between campuses classes and virtual lessons, Nelson confirmed.

“Now we need to have folks act on what they intend to do,” Nelson said. “At some point in the near and remote future, we will come back to school. We are not going to pursue digital learning into perpetuity, so we’re wondering what people’s interest level is right now.”

However, the Fresno teachers union - and several parents who spoke with The Bee on Thursday - said district leaders have failed to provide families with enough information to make an informed decision during the coronavirus pandemic.

“At first this might seem like parental agency; however, the district is asking parents to make a decision without providing clarity about health and safety procedures and without a guarantee that physical distancing and other health guidelines will be followed at the school site,” Fresno Teachers Association officials said in a statement.

Parents who spoke with The Bee said school leaders need to let families know more about both options. Parents said they want to see floor plans showing how students and teachers will be spaced apart. They said they wanted to know more about how distance learning would work and suggested that virtual classes be “more interactive.”

“I feel like there is a lack of transparency here,” Fresno parent Erika Ireland said. “I would really like to have some town hall meetings with parents that are in Fresno Unified and have the board members there and have Bob Nelson there and listening to what we want to talk about.”

The district will host a town hall later this month for parents who have kids in special education classes to discuss learning options. A date was not announced Thursday.

Last week, the teachers union sent a list of procedures, protocols, and questions to district leadership that teachers said should be implemented and answered before classes resume.

“Since that time, it’s increasingly clear that our district, like the vast majority of districts across our nation, will not be able to meet the CDC and local health guidelines, and reopen our schools safely by August 17 (the first day of school),” a statement from the FTA said. “Our position on this matter is clear; if schools can’t safely reopen based on CDC and other health guidelines, then education should continue through distance learning.”

The teachers union will also host a community meeting for parents and educators at 3 p.m. Tuesday to discuss distance learning and the start of the school year.

Parent Beverly Ford also said she wants to know how schools plan to improve online learning - for students and teachers.

“I would like consistency, transparency, and I really believe they have a big challenge in front of them because not all teachers have the same capacity to teach in a virtual way. Somehow they have to address that equity issue,” Ford said.

What we know about Fresno schools this fall

The online learning option is available for all grades, Nelson said. Students will receive daily instruction from their teachers and a designated time for one-on-one support. Students will also have opportunities to collaborate with their classmates each day.

Those who choose the online option will still be enrolled in their designated school, Nelson said. Attendance will be taken for students learning online. Students will be required to learn during school hours and follow a similar schedule as those who are on campuses. Although, Nelson said, the schedule still needs to be “flushed out.”

Nelson said that students choosing online learning would have the option to go back to in-person classes at designated times, possibly between quarters or semesters.

Last month, Fresno Unified released some changes that could be implemented in the fall, but nothing has been finalized. Some of those changes include staggered times for parents to drop off children, social distancing in classes, no field trips, lunches eaten in classrooms where students will remain throughout the day instead of moving between periods.

Students and staff will be required to wear masks under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state-wide order, and the district is looking to reduce the demand for buses and encourages walking, bike riding, and cars.

“We are continuing to evaluate daily and honestly hour by hour as we continue to develop a plan that helps us reconsider the opening of schools in the fall,” Nelson said.

Parents can sign up for online learning here or call 559-457-3395.

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.