Clovis Unified Superintendent Eimear O’Farrell plans to ask the Board of Trustees to formally close campuses for the rest of the school year.

O’Farrell announced her recommendation Friday morning during an online video posted to the district’s Facebook account.

“A full return to our campuses would be premature,” O’Farrell said in the video.

The Fresno County Health Department has not recommended reopening schools, and California’s shelter-in-place order remains in effect, she noted.

The school year formally ends on June 5.

Clovis campuses were among the thousands of school districts that shuttered classrooms in mid-March to combat the spreading coronavirus. Trustees in April extended school closures through May 22.

The Board meets again on the issue May 20, where O’Farrell will make her formal recommendation.

Trustees have acknowledged the need to keep their 43,000 students away from classrooms. However, they’ve also been reluctant to rule out the possibility of returning before the end of the year, bucking — at least temporarily — the nationwide trend.

In April, Board President Chris Casado said trustees were not ready “to throw in the towel” or “write off the whole school year as some districts have done.” School officials have been particularly concerned about graduation ceremonies, saying they want to keep traditional commencements on the table if possible.

But ahead of Wednesday’s critical meeting, Casado said he doesn’t believe the situation has improved enough to allow students back on campus.

“We want to open, but above that is the safety of our students and our employees,” Casado told The Bee on Friday.

Trustee Steven Fogg also seemed supportive of the superintendent’s recommendation.

“To think we are going to go back to exactly the way it was is naive,” Fogg said. “I think we’re going to wearing face masks longer than we ever planned on it.”

O’Farrell said May 22 is the last day of distance learning in terms of new instruction for students. Students can finish any incomplete work through June 5.

Students who have earned academic achievements will be honored at the upcoming board meeting.

O’Farrell, in her message to students this week, praised their perseverance amid the pandemic.

“You’ve been strong when your world was turned upside down,” she said. “You’ve been strong when your teachers asked you to step up and work by yourselves.”

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.