Education Lab
More classes canceled Friday as Fresno-area schools work to slow spread of 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 here.
At least three regional schools are closed this morning - in Oakhurst and Parlier - and all schools are limiting extracurricular activies as officials work to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Fresno State, Fresno Pacific and Fresno City College all limited in-person classes.
The State Center Community College District on Friday morning announced the suspension of some in-person classes beginning Monday. District officials said the suspension would continue through Thursday, March 19 as colleges prepare “to move toward online instruction.”
Several classes will continue to meet in-person next week because instruction can’t be moved online, including labs, career technical education, nursing and child development practicum.
“The goal of this planning effort is to allow for greater social distance, as recommended,” district officials said in a statement. “Students should check with their instructors if they are unsure if their course falls in one of these categories.”
Online classes, Design Science and Reedley Middle College High School will also continue without interruption, officials confirmed.
The move comes a day after Fresno State and other area colleges announced similar decisions.
Area elementary and high schools remained in session Friday, but limited after-school activities and canceled or suspended sports programs.
Yosemite High School in Oakhurst was dark on Friday, after a school staffer visited a high-risk area. School officials stressed there was no known exposure and the staffer is believed to be low-risk, but said the move was out of an “abundance of caution.”
Parlier High and Brletic Elementary in Parlier also remained closed Friday in connection with a student’s recent travels to Europe. As in Oakhurst, there’s no evidence the student was exposed directly and the student is considered “an extremely low risk.”
Central, Fresno and Clovis schools are limiting activies outside of class as well.
Just before noon Thursday, the Mountain West Conference, which includes Fresno State, suspended all spring sports because of the virus.
The California Interscholastic Federation told participating schools - including Sierra Pacific’s girls basketball team - the high school state basketball state championship games will be canceled because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
If cancellations happen for FUSD schools parents will informed via messenger. Class and event cancellation updates will also be posted on the Fresno Unified website. Clovis and Central districts have also been updating their websites with the latest updates.
Most colleges have announced cancellations of events and classes. Community college districts are postponing large events throughout the month of March.
Comments