LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – While public schools have been closed since March 16 in an effort to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in Lake County, educators remain hard at work.
“Dismissing students from school was not an easy decision, nor was it made lightly,” said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.
“Yet, the district superintendents in Lake County agreed that the threat of COVID-19 in our community was a large enough concern to warrant school dismissals,” he explained.
Lake County Health Officer, Dr. Gary Pace, agreed.
The decision was made to help “flatten the curve.” This is to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the community so that the local health care facilities are not overwhelmed.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children under the age of 18 can often be infected with the virus and show only mild symptoms. However, they can still pass the virus on to more vulnerable populations.
Falkenberg acknowledged that school dismissals are difficult. “We understand the challenging conditions that our families are currently facing.”
Lake County educators remain busy though as they adapt to this unique situation.
“Our Lake County teachers are to be commended,” said Falkenberg. “They are doing an amazing job.”
Teachers were given 24 hours’ notice to put together three weeks’ worth of school work for their students.
During the dismissals, many local teachers are calling students on the phone, connecting with them via the internet, or recording videos that they are sharing on social media to keep their students involved, engaged and educated.
“The district’s meal service programs should also be celebrated for their quick and organized response,” said Falkenberg.
School districts immediately begin supplying meals to all Lake County children. Students do not need to be enrolled to receive meals. They just need to be under the age of 18.
School districts have information on meal delivery times and locations on their websites or Facebook pages.
Learning from the fires of the past years, the Lake County Office of Education’s Healthy Start program, generously funded through the Redbud Health Care District, was prepared to act quickly when schools were dismissed.
Healthy Start provides services to the most vulnerable students, making sure they have basic necessities such as food, housing, and medical care.
“Schools are the center of our communities. Our most vulnerable students often lose stability when schools closed,” said Healthy Start Director Ana Santana.
“We immediately contacted the families that we are case managing, our foster youth, and our homeless students to answer any questions they might have, and let them know we are there for them,” added Santana.
Healthy Start is also funded by the Lake County Department of Social Services, First 5 Lake County and the Lake County Continuum of Care.
Falkenberg acknowledged students and their parents. “We thank you for your patience. We are all in this together.”
The Lake County Office of Education will continue to keep the community updated regarding education during this ever-changing situation.
For more information, please visit lakecoe.org or the Lake County Office of Education Facebook page.