OC Public School Closures Recommended During Coronavirus Outbreak

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The Orange County Superintendent of Schools announced his support of the suspension of school operations for at least two weeks, it was announced Friday afternoon. This shutdown, echoed across the state and the nation, will slow the spread of new coronavirus in its tracks, officials hope.

On Thursday, sporting events and numerous other local events were canceled across the county. On Friday, 27 districts and all 615 public schools within the county must determine their next course of action, after the recommendation was made.

County Superintendent Dr. Al Mijares announced his support for the closing of area schools, saying that he did not make this decision lightly.

"We know that temporarily closing a school has a tremendous impact on our families, and steps will need to be implemented to support the continuity of learning and to ensure students have access to healthy meals," Mijares said. "But the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority, and we have confidence that this is the proper precautionary course for Orange County."

Orange County Healthcare's chief health officer Dr. Nichole Quick attempted to reassure the public with the low risks currently in the county.

"I want to reassure our Orange County community that the risk of transmission remains low, and that there are no known cases of COVID-19 infection in a student or teacher at this time," Quick said. "I understand the concerns parents are experiencing and support the school district's decision to close temporarily. It's important to note that as both public and private testing capabilities continue to expand, we expect to see more cases."

According to reports, nearly all of the public school districts are shutting down. The only school district not confirmed as closing is Brea Olinda Unified School District, said Ian Hanigan, a spokesman for the Orange County Department of Education.

Santa Ana Unified School District board members were holding a special board meeting Friday afternoon to discuss possible closures, said Theresa Cisneros, a spokeswoman for the district.

In anticipation of potential closures, OCDE has stepped up its efforts to produce content and materials to help support learning at home.

The department will support districts in their efforts to seek funding relief and recover lost instructional time.

Orange County has four documented cases of COVID-19 and two presumptive positives that are still pending confirmation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is currently no evidence of community transmission in the county.

"I want to reassure our Orange County community that the risk of transmission remains low and that there are no known cases of COVID-19 infection in a student or teacher at this time," said County Health Officer Dr. Nichole Quick. "That said, I understand the concerns parents are experiencing and support the school district's decision to close temporarily. It's important to note that as both public and private testing capabilities continue to expand, we expect to see more cases."

Mijares acknowledged that COVID-19 had caused great anxiety in our schools and communities.

"While local health officials have yet to confirm a case of community transmission, we do not yet know how this will ultimately impact our county," Mijares said.

As a precautionary step to slow and prevent the spread of COVID-19, and after careful deliberations with local school district leaders and in consultation with the Orange County Health Care Agency, I hereby support the decision of schools and districts in our county to suspend all activity for a minimum of 14 days.

This is not a decision we take lightly. We know that temporarily closing a school has a tremendous impact on our families, and steps will need to be implemented to support the continuity of learning and to ensure students have access to healthy meals. But the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority, and we have confidence that this is the proper precautionary course for Orange County.

At this time, county health officials believe the risk of transmission is low, and there has been no evidence of a case affecting a student or staff member at an Orange County school. The Orange County Health Care Agency continues to work with federal, state, and local partners including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and health care providers on preparedness efforts and to guide appropriate care for those who may be at risk for illness associated with the virus.

The Orange County Department of Education has been stepping up its efforts to produce content and materials to help support learning at home. While it is not possible to replace an instructional day or provide comprehensive course content with online resources or take-home packets, we can develop resources and strategies to provide a continuity of learning.

Districts that dismiss students due to pandemics will be eligible to seek funding emergency relief through the California Department of Education's J-13A waiver process. In addition, we are asking California leaders to provide credit for lost instructional time.

The Orange County Department of Education will continue to work diligently with local districts to make sure our schools and students are supported during and after this hiatus."