Gilroy School District Cancels On-Campus Activities

GILROY, CA — The Gilroy Unified School District has canceled on-campus activities and encouraged teachers and staff to work at home through Tuesday.

GUSD Superintendent Dr. Deborah Flores issued a statement Monday citing poor air quality for her decision.

Air quality is forecast to be within the unhealthy to hazardous range in southern Santa Clara County, including Gilroy, over the next three days, Flores said, noting that Bay Area Air Quality Management District recommends that people should stay at home, and avoid being outside when air quality is unhealthy.

“Given these precautions, I have highly recommended to all GUSD staff and teachers that they should work at home through Tuesday afternoon. That information was communicated to our principals today,” Flores’ statement said.

The District Office has also directed all school sites to postpone textbook pick-up, materials distribution, and school photos that were scheduled to take place on any GUSD campus through Tuesday, Flores said, noting that a decision for anything scheduled through the end of the week will be communicated by the end of the day on Wednesday.

Flores said administrative leaders will be in contact with families if their teacher is unable to provide online instruction due to connectivity challenges or if there is disruption due to the fires.

Parents and guardians of GUSD students are asked to continue to check their ParentSquare account and their child’s GUSD email (log-in instructions can be found here) for updates through Tuesday.

Those who need a teacher or staff member at child’s school can request one via email or ParentSquare Flores said, noting office staff may not be in this week to answer the phone and direct incoming calls.

Email information for staff can be found on school websites. A complete list of school websites can be found here. School staff directories can be found on a school’s website under the “Our Staff” tab.

Parents or guardians of students who cannot participate in distance learning due to evacuation mandates are asked to communicate with their child’s teachers and principal as soon as it is safe to do so.