Bay Area school closures: SFUSD shutting all schools for 3 weeks

A student shows how to dispense a hand sanitizer at Oak Crest Elementary in East Central ISD. The school has posted signs in restrooms and one in the main hallway to remind students about hygiene and proper hand washing. Earlier this week, the school district, along with several others in San Antonio, sent letters to parents about precautionary measures being taken at the schools in regards to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). There have been no reported cases of infection in San Antonio but some schools are taking a pro-active attitude toward the safety of their students. less A student shows how to dispense a hand sanitizer at Oak Crest Elementary in East Central ISD. The school has posted signs in restrooms and one in the main hallway to remind students about hygiene and proper ... more Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff Photographer Photo: Kin Man Hui, Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 32 Caption Close Bay Area school closures: SFUSD shutting all schools for 3 weeks 1 / 32 Back to Gallery

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The San Francisco Unified School District announced Thursday afternoon all schools will close for three weeks starting March 16.

The three-week closure includes spring break (scheduled for the week of March 30). During the shutdown, SFUSD leaders and faculty are being told to work on ways to make learning safer during the global pandemic. Faculty will be asked to return to work starting March 23 to help prepare. Students are expected to be welcomed back to school the following week on April 6.

The district serves over 55,000 students.

Students who qualify for free lunches will continue to have access to the program, district officials said. Details on how the food would be served were not immediately available.

Lakeshore Elementary School is already closed; on March 12, four students and a number of adult family members reported having respiratory illness. They were being tested for COVID-19, but at the time of announcement there were no confirmed cases at Lakeshore.

Earlier in the week, SFUSD said it was working to keep public schools open. “We know that this virus has the greatest likelihood of harming elderly people and those with underlying health conditions and chronic illnesses," wrote SF Director of Health Dr. Grant Colfax. “But in children, the illness has been very mild."

As COVID-19 continues to spread around the Bay Area, schools are closing out of an abundance of caution.

On Tuesday, March 10, the Archdiocese of San Francisco announced all 90 of its Catholic schools in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties would close for two weeks after a student tested positive for COVID-19.

Outside the Bay Area, Northern California's largest school district, Elk Grove Unified, announced it would close through March 13 after a family in the district tested positive for the virus.

The following schools in the Bay Area have announced closures:

(In most cases, all classes and on campus activities are canceled.)

ALAMEDA COUNTY

Colleges and universities:

UC Berkeley is suspending most in-person classes as a precaution. Some classes, such as labs, performing arts and physical education, will still be allowed to meet in person, but instructors were encouraged to minimize in-person contact wherever possible. The changes were set to take effect Tuesday, March 10 and will last through the end of spring break on March 29. Administrators informed students and faculty via e-mail on Monday, March 9. Students were told to look for specific instructions from professors in the coming days. Campus will still be open, as will student housing and dining halls.

Cal State East Bay is canceling classes from March 11-15. Classes will resume online starting March 16 through April 12, with a week break for spring break. Some labs and studios that are not possible to teach online will continue in-person instruction.

Oakland Holy Names University is moving all classes online for the time being, starting March 16.

Laney College is canceling in-person classes March 11-14.

K-12:

All Berkeley Unified School District schools will be closed until at least Sunday, April 5. All preschools, elementary and middle schools, as well as Berkeley Adult School, will be closed starting on Monday, March 16. All high schools will be closed starting Friday, March 13.

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

K-12:

All West Contra Costa Unified School District schools will close March 16-April 6, the district announced Thursday afternoon. On Friday, all students in the district will be dismissed at noon.

MARIN COUNTY

K-12:

All 90 Catholic schools in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties will close March 12-25, the Archdiocese of San Francisco announced Tuesday afternoon. Buildings will be closed, classes and activities canceled, and all learning material will be distributed "utilizing the Archdiocesan distance learning protocol," the superintendent said in a statement. One preschool, six elementary schools, and one high school (Marin Catholic High) are affected in Marin County. (Full list here.)

Ross School District is closing from March 13-30.

SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY

K-12:

SFUSD announced on Thursday, March 12 that all schools will be closed for three weeks starting March 16.

Lakeshore Elementary School: Closed for at least two weeks starting March 12 after four students and a number of adult family members reported having respiratory illness. They were being tested for COVID-19, but at the time of announcement there were no confirmed cases at Lakeshore.

Glen Park Elementary School: Closed after seven students reported respiratory illness Thursday. They are being tested for COVID-19, but at the time of the announcement there were no confirmed cases.

All 90 Catholic schools in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties will close March 12-25, the Archdiocese of San Francisco announced Tuesday afternoon. Buildings will be closed, classes and activities canceled, and all learning material will be distributed "utilizing the Archdiocesan distance learning protocol," the superintendent said in a statement. Ten preschools, 27 elementary schools, and seven high schools (including St. Ignatius, Sacred Heart and Archbishop Riordan) are affected in San Francisco. (Full list here.)

In addition, the San Francisco Unified School District told parents in an email Monday night that any student absences over the next two weeks will be excused.

Colleges and universities:

City College of San Francisco is suspending in-person classes for the rest of the semester starting Friday, March 13. The school is moving up its spring break to the week of March 23 (previously the week of March 30) to give faculty time to implement an online learning plan. In the meantime, during the week of March 16, there will be no City College classes or events.

San Francisco State University suspended all face-to-face classes, Tuesday, March 10 through Sunday, March 15. (Online classes continue as usual.) Starting Monday, March 16, all classes will be taught online until at least Sunday, April 5.

The University of San Francisco is suspending all in-person classes through at least March 29. Online classes will begin March 18.

Golden Gate University announced it all of its classes outside of the law school would be moved online for the time being. Many of the university's classes were already taught online before the COVID-19 epidemic. San Francisco State University also canceled face-to-face classes for the remainder of the week.

The Academy of Art University is suspending all on-site instruction starting Wednesday, March 11 until the end of spring break on Monday, March 30. All classes will be taught online.

SAN MATEO COUNTY

K-12:

All 90 Catholic schools in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties will close March 12-25, the Archdiocese of San Francisco announced Tuesday afternoon. Buildings will be closed, classes and activities canceled, and all learning material will be distributed "utilizing the Archdiocesan distance learning protocol," the superintendent said in a statement. Eleven preschools, 22 elementary schools, and five high schools are affected in San Mateo County.

A relative of a student at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo had tested positive. The school closed for cleaning March 9-11 before the Archdiocese announced the larger closure. (Full list here.)

Mid-Peninsula High School in Menlo Park is closing March 13 through April 3. All classes will be held online.

San Mateo Union High School District said all schools, including San Mateo Adult School, will be closed March 16-30.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY

K-12:

Action Day Primary Plus in San Jose: Closed Monday; teacher tested positive.

Colleges and universities:

Santa Clara University suspended face-to-face classes from March 10 through April 13. All classes and winter 1uarter final exams will be conducted online.

Stanford University moved all of its classes online for the time being after a faculty member tested positive for the virus. Winter quarter final exams will be conducted as take-home exams. The university president also asked all students who are able to leave campus housing to do so in order to reduce the concentration of people in the dorms.

San Jose State University is also moving all classes online through March 27.

San José City College, Evergreen Valley College, and the Milpitas College Extension are canceling in-person classes March 11-16. After March 16, the schools say classes will taught online through at least April 6.

The Diocese of San Jose Department of Catholic Schools will close all diocesan schools starting next week through March 30.

West Valley College also canceled face-to-face classes until further notices, starting March 11. Some will restart online March 16 and others will restarting online on March 23.

SONOMA COUNTY

Sonoma State University is canceling face-to-face classes for three days (on March 12, 13 and on the other side of spring break on Monday, March 23). During the break, faculty is preparing to teach online if needed.

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Other schools in San Jose, Berkeley, San Francisco and along the Peninsula closed last week, but reopened after cleanings, on Monday.

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Alix Martichoux is an SFGATE digital editor. Read her latest stories and send her news tips at alix.martichoux@sfgate.com.