California schools' chief Tony Thurmond says students may not return to school this year

Kings County Superintendent of Schools Todd Barlow forwarded the letter to school districts informing them of Thurmond’s anticipated directives. In his letter, the state superintendent stated that “due to safety concerns and needs for social distancing, it currently appears that our students will not be able to return to school campuses before the end of the school year.”

While no firm decisions have been announced regarding schools, Barlow indicated that Thurmond is suggesting that schools may not open this school year.

Kings County’s schools have been closed since March 16. The last day of school occurred on Friday, March 13.  It was only a few days ago (March 27) that all the county’s districts agreed to keep the schools closed to students until May 4.

“I’m writing to you regarding the current status of schools in California. As you know, we continue to deal with the impacts of the coronavirus and how those impacts make it unsafe for our students to be served on school campuses at this time,” said Thurmond. “The need for safety through social distancing warrants that we continue to keep our school campuses closed to students during this pandemic.”

Thurmond says that while schools may not reopen, learning will continue through distance learning programs and opportunities for students, steps local school districts have already taken.

Barlow, in his message to Kings County superintendents, insisted Thurmond’s letter hasn’t changed anything in the short term. “We had already announced the physical closure of sites and being open for distance learning until May 4,” he stated in his notes to superintendents.

He also said that during the state and local “shelter in place” orders, local districts will remain focused on meal distribution, flexible learning, and distance learning. “We will still operate as we have, providing essential services – and doing so remotely and/or with social distancing in mind.”

Thurmond said the California Department of Education (CDE) is prepared to assist distance learning efforts in the state’s school districts. California has provided guidance and resources on distance learning and will continue to enhance that guidance.