‘Open our schools.’ Fresno parents, kids demand campuses reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic

Denise Zanutto has been teaching for 35 years and she’s never cried more.

Between Zoombombing, using four devices to teach, and 100 new students, she said she feels exhausted and overwhelmed as the coronavirus continues to force teachers and students to work and learn from home.

“We need to get in the classroom,” Zanutto told The Bee. “Most of the kids, when you ask them, they want to be there.”

Zanutto, who teaches art at the private San Joaquin Memorial High School, was one of about 100 people who attended a protest to reopen Fresno schools Thursday afternoon at the corner of Herndon and Palm. The rally was organized by Fresno Unified School District parents who said they want to choose between distance learning and sending their children to campus.

“The quality of education is nothing like what we get in the classroom,” said Catherine Peters, a protest organizer. Although classes last a full hour most of the time, she said, sometimes, her children are only in class for 45 minutes.

Her children, who attend Bullard High School and Baird Middle School, have struggled with technical issues and interruptions during virtual lessons, causing stress and anxiety, Peters said.

Most educators agree that in-person classes are more effective, but the coronavirus pandemic puts teachers in a tough spot.

Fresno County school districts, including Fresno, Central, and Clovis Unified, planned to reopen campuses for the fall semester. However, Gov. Gavin Newsom shut those plans down in mid-July when he ordered all campuses in counties with surging COVID-19 cases to remain closed.

Schools cannot reopen campuses until the county has fewer than 7 cases per 100,000 residents daily, among other requirements recently released by Newsom’s office.

Peters said she wants Fresno Unified to fight for their children’s right to go back to school. She said she was “disappointed” that Superintendent Bob Nelson didn’t attend the protest and said, “it proves our suspicion that he is not fighting for our kids.”

“We know that on-campus instruction is the ideal and best learning environment for our students,” Fresno Unified spokesperson Nikki Henry said in an email to The Bee. “We are committed to getting our students back into the classroom as soon as we can, taking into account the guidelines from the state and our local health experts.”

Nelson has also said he wants to get students back to campuses as soon as it is safe, and it’s up to the community to do their part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 so schools can reopen.

“A lot of people have made this an issue of schools,” Nelson said during a news conference in mid-July after the governor’s orders were handed down. “I’m telling you this is a community health concern.”

Theresa Sanchez, a Fresno Unified grandparent, also attended Thursday’s rally, holding up a sign that said “Schools are essential,”

She said she is worried her 5-year-old and 9-year-old great-granddaughters will fall behind in their studies.

Sanchez said she fears the younger child might already be behind because online learning doesn’t allow normal social interactions.

“Kids at that age need socialization,” Sanchez said. “I’m at-risk and still out here.”

Sanchez said she is especially worried about students enrolled in special education. Her son, who is now in the U.S. Air Force, was in special education classes, she said. “And if this happened then, I don’t think he would’ve been as successful as he is.”

Zanutto said students enrolled in special education classes could lose ground quickly.

A few smaller schools have opened despite the governor’s order. Immanuel Schools, a private Mennonite-faith school in Reedley, opened for in-person instruction on Aug. 13, defying the Fresno County Department of Public Health.

Last week a Fresno County judge ruled in favor of Immanuel Schools and said the school could continue to hold in-person classes. Another hearing on the matter is set for Sept. 15.

Outside Creek Elementary School just outside of Visalia also opened for in-person classes.

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. Read more from The Bee’s Education Lab here.

This story was originally published September 3, 2020 at 9:55 PM.