How will Fresno schools change this fall? It could be a lot different — especially for sports
Staggered times for parents to drop off children. No field trips. Lunches eaten in classrooms where students will remain throughout the day instead of moving between periods.
These are just a few of the changes Fresno schools are considering for the fall semester to combat the spread of the coronavirus while educating students.
No decisions have been finalized, but a new report this week sheds light on what the future may hold for teachers, students and parents.
Students and staff will be required to wear masks in accordance with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state-wide order Thursday, Superintendent Bob Nelson said during a press conference Thursday afternoon.
The district is looking to reduce the demand for buses and encourages walking, bike riding, and cars. Some bus routes will be added in congested areas, Nelson said.
Students will have to maintain social distance at bus stops and while on the buses, the report said, and buses will also be disinfected before and after drop-offs.
Outside handwashing stations would be added to schools, officials said, as well as cleaning supplies to wipe down areas that are touched more frequently. Trustee Carol Mills raised concerns that many classes don’t have sinks or running water and hand sanitizer stations will need to be accessible.
Fresno Unified released a survey to get input from the public on how it should reopen schools. About 74% of parents, 71% of teachers, and nearly 75% of students want to go back to in-person learning. District staff and multiple board members acknowledged many working parents have issues with finding and affording childcare.
“We have got to realize that a majority of our parents in this district are working-class laborers ... they are minority and low-income and probably don’t have the best health insurance in the world, so they are already scared of what is going to happen to their families if the coronavirus infects their families, Trustee Claudia Cazares said at Wednesday’s meeting. “We can’t take lightly that they want to send their kids back to school. They need to send their kids back to school. It’s not an option. They have to work.”
For some Fresno Unified students being at school could be the safest option for a variety of reasons, Trustee Veva Islas added.
The district will provide the tools for families who can manage distance learning from home, officials said, and for those who can’t, the district will serve those students using safety protocols and protective equipment.
The district is also working on distance learning plans for parents who don’t feel comfortable sending their kids to school right away. Nelson said Fresno Unified staff will be reaching out to every family to see if their intentions are to send their children back to school or distance learn.
There’s been a spike in positive COVID-19 cases in Fresno County this week. Plans for reopening schools could change as the situation develops over the summer, officials said. Fresno Unified is also preparing for possible large COVID-19 outbreaks that could make some schools or the whole district close.
Students could have a mixture of remote and in-person classes.
Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas said the district should start with fewer kids on campuses and prioritize elementary school kids. As the COVID-19 situation gets better, she said, then the district could begin bringing more students on campuses.
“I know that all of our kids need the in-person instruction, I’m not trying to minimize that,” Jonasson Rosas said. “But what I am saying is that the childcare issues for a first-grader are way different than childcare issues than for potentially an eighth-grader.”
Nelson said there are no easy options available right now.
“We serve a seminal role in the functioning of our community and of our society, particularly in terms of people feeling normal,” Nelson said. “We realize that there’s some inherent privilege elements in accessing online learning which requires having the support of an adult at home who can help that student individually. “
Fresno Unified staff hopes to have set guidelines for reopening schools by July 17.
Athletics
Student-athletes will be able to start practicing with their teams as soon as June 22, but it’s going to look a lot different.
The district has outlined the guidelines for practices in three phases. The first phase requires students and staff to have daily health screenings before the start of summer conditioning. There will be no locker room access, and everyone needs to bring their own towels and water.
According to the report, there will also be no practicing in weight rooms or pools, and no more than 10 students will be grouped with a coach. Students will also have to be six feet apart.
Wearing masks will be encouraged except during high-intensity workouts, the report said.
During the second phase, the same parameters are going to be enforced, but weight rooms will be open, and equipment will be wiped down between uses. Fewer than 10 students will be allowed at a time in weight rooms. Up to 50 students can gather for outside workouts if physical distancing is practiced, and modified practices will be approved for “moderate risk sports,” which does not include football, competition cheer, or wrestling.
Phase three also has the same parameters as phases one and two, but modified practices and competitions for “high-risk sports” like football, competition cheer, and wrestling can begin.
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 June 18, 2020 at 2:08 PM.