Here’s what Fresno County’s new coronavirus restrictions mean for your child’s school

With Fresno County returning to California’s purple tier of most-restrictive coronavirus safety measures, local schools that are already open won’t be forced to close again.

Any school that hasn’t reopened must remain closed unless that school has been approved for a reopening waiver by health department officials, according to California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. The waiver allows elementary schools to remain open regardless of the county’s tier assignment.

The Fresno Unified School District and Clovis Unified School District have both been approved for waivers and have opened all campuses.

Fresno Unified has small cohorts of students with the most need coming onto campuses for distance learning. Students are not being taught in-person. Some of these students are homeless or foster youth, in special education classes, or English learners, school officials have said.

After campuses opened, some homeless and foster students who didn’t have internet access were able to log onto virtual lessons for the first time since the school year started, Fresno Unified officials said during the Nov. 4 board meeting.

Fresno Unified will continue distance learning for the remainder of the semester, spokesperson Amy Idsvoog told The Bee. The district isn’t planning to return to in-person classes until the county is in the orange tier. The district will have a town hall meeting and a news conference to discuss reopening plans later this week, she added.

Clovis Unified is continuing forward with their plans to reopen, and all campuses have been partially reopened, district spokesperson Kelly Avants said. Small groups of elementary students returned to campuses last month and have been phased back into classrooms slowly, with a near full return of elementary students by Jan. 19.

The Central Unified School District has not been approved for a waiver as of Monday afternoon. Small groups of elementary students with special needs returned to campuses last month. However, most students won’t be returning until January.

Fresno County landed in the purple tier on Monday, a day ahead of Tuesday’s scheduled update. News of the incoming restrictions on churches, businesses, and schools wasn’t a surprise.

COVID-19 infections have been skyrocketing to the highest levels seen in months in Fresno County, including more than 1,000 new cases reported over about seven days last week.

Here is a list of schools in the San Joaquin Valley that have been approved for a waiver:

Fresno County

• Sanger Unified School District - Centerville Elementary
• Sanger Unified School District - Del Rey Elementary
• Sanger Unified School District - Fairmont Elementary
• Sanger Unified School District - Jackson Elementary
• Sanger Unified School District - Jefferson Elementary
• Sanger Unified School District - Lincoln Elementary
• Sanger Unified School District - Lone Star Elementary
• Sanger Unified School District - Madison Elementary
• Sanger Unified School District - Reagan Elementary
• Sanger Unified School District - John Wash Elementary
• Sanger Unified School District - Sequoia Elementary
• Sanger Unified School District - Wilson Elementary
• Sanger Unified School District - Sanger Academy
• Sanger Unified School District - Quail Lake Elementary
• Firebaugh Las Deltas Unified - H.M.Bailery Primary
• Firebaugh Las Deltas Unified -A.E. Mills Elementary
• Riverdale Joint Union - Central Valley Pre K
• Riverdale Joint Union - Fipps Primary School
• Riverdale Joint Union - Riverdale Elementary
• Selma Unified - Eric White Elementary
• Selma Unified- Garfield Elementary
• Selma Unified - Indianola Elementary
• Selma Unified - Jackson Elementary
• Selma Unified - Roosevelt Elementary
• Selma Unified - Terry Elementary
• Selma Unified - Washington Elementary
• Selma Unified - Wilson Elementary
• Fresno Unified - Viking Elementary
• Fresno Unified - Vinland Elementary
• Fresno Unified - Webster Elementary
• Fresno Unified - Williams Elementary
• Fresno Unified - Wilson Elementary
• Fresno Unified - Winchell Elementary
• Fresno Unified - Wishon Elementary
• Fresno Unified - Wolters Elementary
• Fresno Unified - Yokomi Elementary
• Morris E. Dailey Charter School
• Clovis Unified - Boris Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Bud Rank Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Cedarwood Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Century Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Clovis Elementary
• Clovis Unified- Cole Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Copper Hills Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Dry Creek Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Francher Creek Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Fort Washington Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Freedom Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Fugman Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Garfield Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Gettysburg Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Jefferson Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Liberty Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Lincoln Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Maple Creek Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Mickey Cox Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Miramonte Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Mountain View Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Nelson Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Oraze Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Pinedale Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Reagan Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Red Bank Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Riverview Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Sierra Vista Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Tarpey Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Temperance-Kutner Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Valley Oak Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Weldon Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Woods Elementary
• Clovis Unified - Young Elementary
• Fowler Unified School District -Malaga Elementary
• Fowler Unified School District -Marshall Elementary
• Fowler Unified School District -Fremont Elementary
• Caruthers Elementary School
• Burrel Union Elementary School
• Charlie Keyan Armenian Community School
• Kings Canyon Unified School District
• Kingsburg Elementary School
• Kerman Unified School District
• Laton Unified School District
• St. Helen’s Catholic School
• Truth Tabernacle Christian School
• Fresno Adventist Academy
• Carden School of Fresno
• Faith Christian Academy
• Edison-Bethune Charter School
• Kepler Charter School
• Pine Ridge Elementary School
• Clay Joint Elementary School District
• Fresno Christian School
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help
• St. Anthony’s Catholic School
• St. LaSalle Catholic School
• Kerman Christian
• Big Creek Elementary
• Orange Center Elementary School

Madera County

• Bass Lake Unified School District- Oakhurst Elementary
• Bass Lake Unified School District- Wasuma Elementary
• Bass Lake Unified School District- Oak Creek Intermediate (grade 6 only)
• Yosemite Unified - Coarsegold Elementary School
• Yosemite Unified - Rivergold Elementary School
• Sherman Thomas Charter School
• Corte Madera School
• Ezequiel Tafoya Alvarado Academy Charter
• Dairyland Elementary
• Alview Elementary School
• Chowchilla Adventist Elementary School
• St. Joachim
• Sierra View Elementary
• Webster Elementary
• Hillside Elementary
• Spring Valley School
• North Fork School
• Chawanakee Academy Charter School

• Mountain Home School Charter

Kings County

• Cinnamon Elementary
• P.W. Engvall Elementary
• Lemoore Elementary
• Meadow Lane Elementary
• Island Union Elementary
• Kings Chapel Christian School
• Mary-Immaculate Queen School - Lemoore
• Armona Union Academy
• St. Rose-McCarthy Catholic School
• Hanford Christian School

Tulare County

• Porterville Schools -Westfield Elementary School

• Porterville Schools -West Putnam Elementary School

• Porterville Schools -Vandalia Elementary School

• Porterville Schools -Santa Fe Elementary School

• Porterville Schools -Roche Avenue Elementary School

• Porterville Schools -Olive Street Elementary School

• Porterville Schools -Monte Vista Elementary School

• Porterville Schools -Los Robles Elementary School

• Porterville Schools -John J. Doyle Elementary School

• Porterville Schools -Belleview Elementary School

• Visalia Unified- Annie R. Mitchell
• Visalia Unified- Conyer
• Visalia Unified- Cottonwood Creek
• Visalia Unified- Crestwood
• Visalia Unified- Crowley
• Visalia Unified- Denton
• Visalia Unified- Elbow Creek
• Visalia Unified- Four Creeks
• Visalia Unified- Golden Oak
• Visalia Unified- Goshen
• Visalia Unified- Highland
• Visalia Unified- Houston
• Visalia Unified- Hurley
• Visalia Unified- Ivanhoe
• Visalia Unified- Linwood
• Visalia Unified- Manuel F. Hernandez
• Visalia Unified- Mineral King
• Visalia Unified- Mountain View
• Visalia Unified- Oak Grove
• Visalia Unified- Pinkham
• Visalia Unified- Riverway
• Visalia Unified- Royal Oaks
• Visalia Unified- Shannon Ranch
• Visalia Unified- Veva Blunt
• Visalia Unified- Washington
• Visalia Unified- Willow Glen
• Visalia Unified- Global Learning
• Visalia Unified- Charter Home School Academy
• Cutler Orosi Unified -Cutler Elementary
• Orosi Unified -Golden Valley Elementary
• Cutler Orosi Unified -Palm Elementary
• Cutler Orosi Unified -El Monte Elementary
• Buena Vista Elementary
• Three Rivers School
• Kings River Union
• Tipton Elementary
• Strathmore Elementary
• Roosevelt Elementary
• Jefferson Elementary
• Washington Elementary
• Reagan Elementary
• Kennedy Elementary
• Sunnyside Elementary
• Lincoln Elementary
• Rockyhill Elementary
• Sequoia Union
• Grace Christian
• Rockford Elementary School
• Valley Life Charter
• Pleasant View
• Liberty
• Oak Valley Elementary School
• Stone Corral Elementary School
• Traver Elementary
• Saucelito Elementary
• Hope Elementary
• Central Valley Christian Academy
• Sierra View Jr. Academy
• George McCann
• Dinuba Jr. Academy
• St. Paul’s School
• St. Anne’s Catholic School
• Zion Lutheran School
• St. Aloysius
• Dinuba Jr. Academy
• St. Paul’s School
• St. Anne’s Catholic School
• Palo Verde

• Burton School District - Jim Maples

• Burton School District -Oak Grove

• Burton School District -William R. Buckley

• Burton School District -Summit Charter Academy - Matthew

• Burton School District -Summit Charter Academy - Lombardi

• Burton School District -Burton Elementary

• Columbine Elementary School

Merced County

• Pioneer Elementary

• Weaver Middle School (grade 6 only)

• Farmdale Elementary
• Community Day School (Tk-3)
• Rudolph Rivera Elementary (Tk-3)
• Luther Burbank Elementary (Tk-3)
• Chenoweth Elementary (Tk-3)
• Gracey Elementary (Tk-3)
• Franklin Elementary (Tk-3)
• Fremont Elementary (Tk-3)
• Givens Elementary (Tk-3)
• Muir Elementary (Tk-3)
• Sheehy Elementary (Tk-3)
• Wright Elementary (Tk-3)
• Stowell Elementary (Tk-3)
• Peterson Elementary (Tk-3)
• Reyes Elementary (Tk-3)
• Stefani Elementary (Tk-3)
• Elim Elementary
• Merquin Elementary
• Selma Herndon Elementary
• Campus Park Elementary
• Yamato Colony Elementary
• McSwain Union Elementary School
• Planada Elementary School
• Ballico-Cressey Community Charter
• Cressey Elementary
• Our Lady of Miracles
• Dos Palos Elementary
• Bernhard Marks Elementary
• Los Banos Adventist Christian School
• St. Paul Lutheran School
• El Nido Elementary
• Our Lady of Fatima School
• Our Lady of Mercy School
• St. Anthony School
• Le Grand Union Elementary School
• Plainsburg Union Elementary School
• Snelling Merced Falls School
• Merced River School

This story was originally published November 16, 2020 at 12:40 PM.