Will Newsom cancel Clovis’ back to school plans? Some teachers hope so
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to announce Friday that counties on the state’s coronavirus watchlist will not be able to open schools for in-person classes in the fall, according to Ed Source, jeopardizing plans for Clovis Unified, which has rolled out plans to welcome students back to campus in August.
Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare counties have been on the state’s watchlist as COVID-19 infections and deaths have risen in the past weeks, with over 22,000 positive cases and 320 deaths recorded since the pandemic began.
Clovis Unified on Wednesday announced its plans to resume traditional in-person classes in the fall and a fully online option. Sanger Unified was also set to give parents the option of a full return to campus.
Some Clovis Unified teachers have expressed anxiety about returning to the classroom.
“I am already getting emails from parents telling me that their students are not able to wear masks, or face shields due to physical limitations and/or behavioral needs,” one teacher told The Bee, requesting anonymity.
“The surge in cases in Fresno County is already putting a strain on our hospital systems. ICU beds are filling up, and this reckless division that is politically and ideologically driven will undoubtedly exacerbate this public health crisis.”
Another staff member feared losing their job if forced to return to traditional classes.
“There is only so much power we have to enforce these kinds of regulations over our students,” the staff member said. “If they don’t want to wear a mask, the most I can do is call their parents to have them picked up, and I don’t even know if not wearing a mask is something I can even send someone home for at this point.”
The staff member said anxiety would impair their ability to lead.
“Some kids will be confrontational about this on purpose,” the staff member said. “Some won’t understand why they have to wear a mask or why they can’t play with their friend.”
Fresno Unified plans to announce its plans Friday afternoon, after the two largest school districts in the state, Los Angeles and San Diego Unified School District, announced classes would all be online in the fall. Fresno Unified is the third-largest school district in California.
Clovis Unified officials are waiting to see what the governor will announce, according to spokesperson Kelly Avants.
“Our plans announced Wednesday included the ability to pivot to full online if state or local mandates required it, whether that happened a few hours or weeks after the board’s decision,” she said.
Thirty-one out of 58 counties remain on the monitoring list. According to Ed Source, they would have to see declining virus cases and meet other criteria before being able to open schools.
Newsom and the California Department of Education had maintained that it was up to each district to take recommendations from local health departments on whether or not to open.
The governor’s expected announcement comes after the Trump Administration’s threats to open the nation’s schools or risk federal money.
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 July 17, 2020 at 10:50 AM.