Clovis Unified wasted no time in announcing changes to COVID-19 contact tracing and quarantine for students. The district informed parents Thursday — the same day the Fresno County Public Health Department issued new guidelines — that contact tracing for students who are close contacts of a positive case would be halted, as would quarantining siblings who have a positive case in their household but show no symptoms.
In addition, schools would no longer send letters in the event of a classroom exposure, the district said.
Student testing for extracurricular activities is halted in Fresno County, although students traveling to areas outside the county where it is still required will need to follow those areas’ rules to participate.
But testing of students who return to school before Day 11 after testing positive will continue and their family members should monitor themselves for symptoms.
The rule changes went into effect on Friday.
There is no rule change yet for masks, which are still required for K-12 students and for staff when students are present.
Also in the school zone:
- The teachers’ union makes endorsements and another candidate emerges for Fresno County Schools Superintendent.
- She’s a “Guardian of the Galaxy,” and she’s coming to Fresno.
- Fresno Unified Scholarship Fund seeks applicants.
The teachers’ union supports the candidates
Andy Levin
Susan Wittrup
Two candidates for the Fresno Unified School Board say they have been endorsed by the Fresno Teachers Association.
Andy Levine, one of four candidates in the April 12 special election to take the Fresno High Area 5 seat, and Susan Wittrup, a candidate in the Bullard High Area 7 election in November, say the FTA endorsed them .
The FTA did not respond to a query from GV Wire this week about these or other mentions.
Meanwhile, the number of candidates to replace Fresno County Schools Superintendent Jim Yovino has increased. Dr. Daren Miller, a Madera Unified educator, filed campaign finance documents for the post. Miller had been appointed to the Fresno County School Board Zone 3 seat to replace Nelson Esparza after Esparza won the Fresno City Council election but then lost in the 2020 election to James Martinez.
The other candidates are Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher, administrator of the Education Leadership and Development Division at the Fresno County Office of the Superintendent of Schools, and Eliseo Gamino, who ran against Yovino in the 2018 election. Gamino, a Raisin City Elementary teacher, is a member of the Firebaugh-Las Deltas School Board.
Yovino announced in January that he would not run for the position he has held since 2014.
Related Story: Fresno County Schools Chief Yovino Won’t Seek Re-Election
A scientist from the Mars mission protects the red planet
Dr Moogega Cooper
Dr. Moogega Cooper, Mars 2020 Mission Plantar Protection Lead, will be visiting Fresno City College on Wednesday, February 23 as part of the Speakers Forum Series and Black History Month.
Cooper, whom Fresno City playfully describes as a veritable “guardian of the galaxy,” is working with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to determine whether Mars might be suitable for human habitation and to ensure that earthlings do not harm what is already there.
She will speak from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the auditorium of the Old Administration Building. Admission and parking are free. For those unable to navigate the OAB, his speech will also be streamed via Zoom.
It’s unclear whether Cooper will bring a mixtape of classic ’70s hit tapes.
Attention Fresno Unified Researchers
College-bound Fresno Unified students could get a little help paying for their post-secondary education through the Fresno Unified Scholarship Fund, but they’ll need to act fast. The deadline to apply is March 1.
The district awarded $165,000 in scholarships to 76 seniors last spring.
Students will be required to submit a completed application, transcript, and letters of recommendation.
Questions? Contact the College and Career Readiness Department at (559) 248-7465 or email FUSDscholarship@fresnounified.org.
The Scholarship Fund also welcomes all contributions to the fund, which is administered by the Central Valley Community Foundation. Fresno Unified employees can contribute through payroll deductions.
The public or employees can donate online via PayPay or a debit or credit card to the foundation, or by sending a check payable to Central Valley Foundation with the FUSD Scholarship Fund on the memo line. Mail checks to: Central Valley Community Foundation, 5260 N. Palm Ave., Suite 122, Fresno, CA 93704.
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