Paso Robles schools extend closure as district holds out hope for a re-opening
Paso Robles school campuses will remain closed through at least May 16 — but the district is not yet ready to completely cancel in-person classes for the year.
Paso Robles Joint Unified School District board trustees on Tuesday night voted unanimously to approve Superintendent Curt Dubost’s recommendation to keep school campuses closed while waiting for further direction from San Luis Obispo County Public Health officials.
County leaders on Friday must decide whether to renew the two-week shelter-at-home order that’s been in place since March 19 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus.
The county is also subject to a California-wide shelter-at-home order that went into effect around the same time.
If leaders announce they will continue the order past May 16, the Paso Robles district will immediately announce that campuses will remain closed for the year.
However, if leaders indicate they may start re-opening the county on or about May 16, the district “will take steps to determine if it is feasible to reopen schools on or about May 18, 2020-June 4, 2020,” according to an email from Jennifer Gaviola, deputy superintendent.
Dubost said he’s aware not everyone will be pleased with his decision, but he believes it’s prudent to hold off on making a definitive call for as long as possible. He also expressed concerns that families may take a year-end school closure announcement as an indication to discontinue distance learning efforts.
San Luis Coastal and Lucia Mar unified school districts have both announced in-person classes will not resume this year.
“It’s just tough to know what the future holds,” Dubost said during Tuesday’s meeting. “It was my judgment that we should wait as long as we possibly can to make that judgment.
