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The dominoes kept falling Friday morning, with the fear of coronavirus causing another school district to make the decision that staying open just isn’t worth the risk.
In a letter to parents and employees obtained by this newspaper, Mount Diablo Unified School District Superintendent Robert Martinez announced that schools in his district won’t be open come Tuesday.
“In an abundance of caution, I have decided to formally close schools …” Martinez wrote. Monday is a scheduled holiday in the district.
Schools in the district were open Friday, but Martinez said the MDUSD was “working directly with school sites where we have any new information that may prompt any immediate need to close school (Friday), and will provide everyone with additional information when it is available.”
Martinez’s decision came in the wake of decisions on Thursday by the San Francisco Unified School District and the West Contra Costa Unified School District to close their doors. He did not indicate in his email how long the schools would be close but did say that information may come later Friday.
“We do not make this decision lightly, as we understand that school closures can be difficult on our families,” Martinez wrote. “We believe that this decision is in the best interest of our students and we will continue to monitor the situation and to communicate openly with our community.”
Martinez wrote that the district is committed to providing as many services as it still can, “including food services at select school sites.”
Principals will keep the parents’ at their schools informed about which services remain open, he wrote.
No employees or students within the district have been confirmed to have coronavirus.
The district oversees 31 elementary skills, nine middle schools, five high schools, 16 alternative schools and an adult education program.
Check back for updates.
