Placer County closes all public schools for three weeks to stem coronavirus spread
All public school districts in Placer County will be closed for three weeks starting Monday in an attempt to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.
Campuses will be closed at all 16 public schools and several of its 22 dependent charter schools through April 3, according to a statement by the county’s office of education. Before- and after-school care programs will also be canceled.
That means more than 74,000 students from kindergarten through high school will be out of school, including the districts of Rocklin Unified, Roseville City, Roseville Joint Union High and Western Placer Unified.
“As our county navigates this difficult time, we must continue to lean on the strength of each other,” Placer County Superintendent of Schools Gayle Garbolino-Mojica said in a statement. “Please be patient and be kind to one another. The safety and wellness of our students and staff are a priority, and we thank you for your cooperation and support in helping us to maintain a healthy and safe learning environment.”
In an email sent by Rocklin Academy Family of Schools to parents Friday afternoon, officials said the move is “in order to protect the health and safety of students and our communities.”
“We understand these are difficult times and we did not make this decision lightly. We are in the midst of a public health emergency and we need everyone to do their part,” the email read.
The decision comes as Sacramento County Office of Education also announced Friday afternoon it would be closing schools for up to three weeks.
Placer County was where the first reported death related to the new coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, occurred in California — an elderly man who had likely caught it while on an overseas cruise.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 3:02 PM.