Nobody knows what classrooms will look like during a global pandemic, and Fresno-area school districts have been grappling with how to follow COVID-19 social distancing guidelines during class, lunch, bus rides, and recess.

Most local school districts haven’t finalized any plans yet, but this week the Fresno County Office of Education released 28 pages of guidelines outlining ways to reopen campuses this fall safely. Although, it’s still up to each district to decide how to implement changes to keep students, teachers, and staff in healthy environments.

“The health piece is really the essence of this document and what I mean by that is if the community at large is not practicing healthy social distancing … to help slow the spread of this disease, we’re heading in the wrong direction with the goal of getting back to school,” Assistant Superintendent Hank Gutierrez told The Bee.

Some of those guidelines include installing partitions or sneeze-guards, spreading out desks, closing down communal areas like playgrounds and cafeterias, having children bring their own lunches, and eating in classrooms.

Teaching and reinforcing the use of masks was also mentioned in the report, especially for older students and in settings where it’s more challenging to be six-feet apart. Students should also avoid sharing electronic devices, books, toys, and art supplies.

The same group of students and staff should also stay together “all day for young children, and as much as possible for older children.” the report said.

The report said that frequently touched surfaces and shared objects should be disinfected at least daily or, if possible, between each use.

The county office of education also advises schools to choose to do virtual field trips, assemblies, and events as much as possible, limiting the number of visitors on campus, especially if they’re traveling from out of town.

To prevent large groups gathering during drop-offs and pick-ups, schools could stagger the times and locations.

This report will be updated in coming weeks while the county office of education works with districts to get more input.

What guidelines are school districts going to follow?

Gutierrez said the county office of education couldn’t enforce any of the guidelines it has proposed, so it’s up to each district to decide what works best for its students and staff.

Fresno and Clovis Unified School Districts are set to reopen on Aug. 17.

However, Fresno Unified’s board of trustees “have yet to make a decision on if school will return in-person, through distance learning, or a combination of both,” said spokesperson Nikki Henry in an email to The Bee.

Fresno Unified staff have reviewed the report, Henry said, and plan to share more information about the guidelines it will follow in June and July.

Clovis Unified officials have also reviewed the guidelines and want students to return to in-person classes in August, said Kelly Avants, the district’s spokesperson.

“Everyone has worked hard at making distance learning work for our students, but we know that face-to-face instruction is critical for every child to achieve success,” Avants said in an email. “For that reason, we have already assembled a team in Clovis Unified that is working hard developing and executing the plans necessary for us to return to in-person instruction.”

Central Unified School District officials created a Return to School Task Force that will present the board with options for reopening schools. School is set to start Aug. 12, but district officials have not said whether students will be on campuses.

How much is this going to cost?

School districts across California are getting hit with multi-million-dollar budget cuts this year due to the billion-dollar deficit the state is experiencing because of the coronavirus pandemic. Still, districts need to figure out ways to fund the changes it will have to make.

Gutierrez said the two biggest budget concerns for superintendents are paying for protective equipment, like masks and gloves, and transportation costs. If students need to stay six feet apart on buses, that could mean adding extra bus routes, he said, which can cost more money.

It’s likely student and staff attendance will drop, the report said, which can also impact funds districts get.

“Some of the assumptions we have identified are students and staff coming back to school after lengthy shelter-in-place, and they’re going to have fear and loss and having difficulty with isolation,” Gutierrez said. “ So, there may be an increased need for mental health services for our kids.”

Clovis Unified is considering having smaller class sizes, modifying schedules, and preparing for additional safety and cleaning practices that are all going to cost money, Avants said.

“With the governor’s announced budget reductions in his May revise, where these dollars will come from, it isn’t clear for school districts,” she said.

California expects to lose $54.3 billion, with $7.5 billion of that slashed from K-12 education. Clovis Unified is estimated to lose $30 million, about 8% of the district’s roughly $393 million budget. Fresno Unified’s loss is projected at $79.3 million from the district’s $1.2 billion budget.

Central Unified officials have not said how much money they are slated to lose, but the board will discuss the budget at the upcoming June 9 meeting.

The budget cuts could fluctuate later this summer after the state’s tax revenues are collected in July. If the HEROES Act passes, a $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill will provide money to state and local governments, including school districts.

However, some educators, administrators, and parents don’t think schools can reopen safely with the budget cuts to education. The California Education Coalition held a news conference Thursday to urge lawmakers to adopt a funding solution to the budget crisis in June so schools can open safely and on time.

“Schools and colleges cannot reopen safely if the cuts are given in the manner they are stated,” E. Toby Boyd said, the president of the California Teachers Association. “The revised budget says a 10% cut across the board. We can’t afford to do that. Right when we say we need to have it safer for our students and our staff, that will not make it happen.”

Raegan Duncan, a teacher in Vista who also spoke at the news conference, said budget cuts are making many teachers afraid of returning to a classroom that doesn’t have adequate hand sanitizer, gloves, and masks.

“The amount we’re going to need is almost insurmountable,” she said. “It’s not possible to provide that much in a district like mine where we have declining enrollment and already faced budget cuts.”

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 May 29, 2020 at 9:57 AM.