Schools close for the year. Students will continue education via 'distance learning'

Lemoore’s elementary schools and its one public high school district will also continue with its distance learning efforts. Still, as far as reopening the schools before the end of the regular school year – which generally ends in early June – that option appears out of the question said, local superintendents.

Lemoore's only private school, Kings Christian, sent students home March 18 and kids have been working on distance learning. "Our goal in all this is to educate our children as much as possible in these unusual times," said the school's principal, Kevin Dalafu.

Both the Lemoore Union Elementary School District and Lemoore Union High School District posted messages on their web sites today (April 3) that cited both California Governor Gavin Newsom and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, both of whom have shared their expectations that schools probably should not reopen.

In his latest missive, Kings County’s Superintendent of Schools, Todd Barlow, encouraged the continuation of “distance learning” measures for the remainder of the year. Still, he seemed to concede that resuming usual school attendance is likely out of the question.

“Each district superintendent, in conjunction with their local trustees, will determine their plan for the remainder of the year and announce their decision to their communities,” stated Barlow. “Parents should watch for information from their local school sites and districts and contact their local administrators for specific information related to their children’s schools.” 

In her letter, also posted on the district’s website, Superintendent Cheryl Hunt confirmed that students would not return to classrooms the remainder of this school year. Instead, she will focus on distance learning, which it expects to begin soon and continue through the end of the regular school year which usually occurs in early June.

She expects to resume opening all Lemoore Union Elementary schools on August 11.

“At this time, with the information known, the Lemoore Union Elementary School District sites will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year,” stated Hunt. “This is a collective decision by our Lemoore area schools and a commitment from our Kings County schools.”

Hunt also said that after Spring Break, the district would continue providing meal service to its students from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Meals will be available at each of the district’s elementary school locations, including its Liberty Middle School and the Belle Haven and Sunset Vista Mobile Park locations.

Lemoore High School has more than made up the difference. A team of the school’s administrators, cafeteria, and grounds staff spent much of the morning today (April 3) distributing lunches to long lines of vehicles.

Citing the governor’s reluctance to reopen the schools, Lemoore High School District Superintendent Debbie Muro posted that students would not be returning to classes this current school year. “We recognized and support such a decision to ensure the safety for everyone and will not be reopening our schools this school year. We will be continuing with distance learning for the remainder of the school year,” she said.

Muro also announced that Lemoore High School would continue to distribute meals until the end of the school year. However, she is encouraging parents and students to listen to the district’s phone calls and watch for Facebook to keep up to date on the district’s lunch schedule “as it can change based on the availability of food supplies.”

High school officials are considering a virtual or in-person graduation ceremony for this year’s seniors – if at all possible. She conceded that graduation “may not be able to take place until late June, July, or even in August, depending on the progression of COVID-19, however, and circumstances beyond our control may prevent us from doing so at all,” she said.

The Central Union School and Island Elementary School districts have joined its fellow area schools and decided to take the safety-first move, closing its school facilities through the end of the current school year, and will go to online distance learning. “Our staff has already embraced this 'new normal,' and we will continue to connect with our students,” said Central Union School District Superintendent Tom Addington.

Island School’s Superintendent/Principal Charlotte Hines, in a letter to her parents and students, confirmed that the school would conduct distance learning and would not open its doors to students the remainder of the school year.

Hanford’s elementary and high school districts also announced today that their schools will close for the remainder of the year and that their students would undergo distance learning.