Students are back on campus at a California private school, despite Newsom’s orders
Story update: Fresno County health officials order Immanuel Schools to stop in-person teaching
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School was definitely back in session at Immanuel Schools in Reedley on Thursday morning.
There was the first-day traffic as parents dropped off kids, loaded backpacks in tow. Students posed for pictures.
There were plenty of hugs and few masks.
If anything seemed less than normal as the private, Mennonite-faith-based K-12 school reopened for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began in March, it was students getting their temperatures checked on the way onto campus.
By allowing students on campus and in classrooms, the school was in violation of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mandate prohibiting in-person instruction for schools in counties on the state watch list — including Fresno County.
The county health department on Wednesday said it was aware of the school’s intent to reopen its campus to students and it was prepared to take action.
“The County Health Officer will order the school closed,” Sonia Brar, a Public Health Communication member, said in an email to The Bee on Wednesday evening. “If the school violates that order, the County will take action in Superior Court to obtain a court order to close.
“The County will also petition the State to take action to close the school. Additionally, the school could be subjected to prosecution for unfair business practices.”
The school’s chief administrative officer, Andy Souza, did not return messages left Wednesday evening and Thursday morning seeking comment.
Immanuel Schools, which has a enrollment of approximately 600 students and teaches kindergarten through 12th grade on one campus, has gone against public health guidelines before.
Back in June, Immanuel held in-person high school graduation that attracted roughly 800 to 1,000 people despite Fresno County Department of Public Health guidelines to restrict public gatherings and big groups due to the potential spread of COVID-19.
This story was originally published August 13, 2020 at 10:40 AM with the headline "Students are back on campus at a California private school, despite Newsom’s orders."