Newsom: Schools Probably Won’t Reopen this School Year

 

On Tuesday Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters and parents that schools probably will not reopen this school year.

“I would plan and assume that it is unlikely that many of these schools, a few if any, will reopen before the summer break,” Newsom said.

Before making the announcement Newsom said he needed to be honest and held accountable and did not want to mislead anyone.

It is not known if. or when, the Newsom plans to make a formal announcement.

Newsom’s statement came on the second day local students were home after public schools in the Pasadena Unified School District were closed.

Pasadena Now reached out to school officials, but received no response Tuesday afternoon.

About 85 percent of the state’s schools are currently shuttered due to the virus. Several governors across the country have been closing schools statewide.

Numbers skyrocketed on Monday when 50 new cases of the virus were reported increasing the confirmed cases to 144 in the state. On March 3, two weeks ago there were less than 20 confirmed cases.

There was no announcement on the district’s website on Tuesday regarding the governor’s statement.

The last message, posted on Monday, was a message to the community outlining the district’s plans by Superintendent Brian McDonald.

“Thank you for your understanding and patience as we respond to rapid changes related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” McDonald said in the statement. “It’s a stressful time for everyone and I want to encourage you to take care of yourself, your families, and each other during these unprecedented times. Our goal is to ensure the safety of our students, families, staff, and community staff by limiting contact and helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

On Tuesday the district’s Food Service Department, with the help of volunteers, served 668 meals for children in our community.  PUSD is also partnering with the city of Pasadena and local organizations to provide services that support our students and families during the national emergency.