All 18 public school districts in Contra Costa County (as well as Contra Costa County Office of Education programs) will be closed on Friday, November 16 due to worsening air quality conditions throughout the county.
Contra Costa County K-12 school districts include:
- Acalanes Union High School District
- Antioch Unified School District
- Brentwood Union School District
- Byron Union School District
- Canyon School District
- John Swett Unified School District
- Knightsen School District
- Lafayette School District
- Liberty Union High School District
- Martinez Unified School District
- Moraga School District
- Mt. Diablo Unified School District
- Oakley Elementary Union School District
- Orinda School District
- Pittsburg Unified School District
- San Ramon Valley Unified School District
- Walnut Creek School District
- West Contra Costa Unified School District.
*The Contra Costa Community College District has also announced the closure of all three of its campuses for Friday.
The decision to close county districts was reached collectively on Thursday afternoon by the superintendents of Contra Costa County’s 18 school districts and the County Office of Education. District superintendents cited numerous factors, including:
- The cumulative effect of poor air quality throughout the week have created unhealthy environments for students and staff;
- The forecast for Friday calls for worsening air quality conditions throughout the region;
- Other education agencies including Cal State East Bay were announcing closures;
- With neighboring schools closing, staff members would be faced with significant child care dilemmas.
“While it is never an easy decision to cancel school for even one day, we, along with our district superintendents felt it was in the best interest of our students, staff members and communities to do this,” said Karen Sakata, Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools. “We will continue to work alongside our school districts as they communicate this decision to their communities.”
As a result of the wildfires in Butte County, air quality index levels throughout Contra Costa County and northern California have continued to worsen as defined by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. School districts have been monitoring air quality throughout the week and have limited or cancelled outdoor activities in accordance with Contra Costa County Public Health Department guidelines.
Families should check their school and school district websites for more information. Or visit www.cocoschools.org.
6 comments
If the air is that bad —- and it is — then people should be prohibited from driving vehicles, too. This just adds to the unhealthy air problem.
The cattle factory farms up near Sacramento I’m sure cause worse pollution than all the cars in the Bay Area combined.
I applaud these school districts for doing what is right. However, some shitty teachers may disagree to these closures. Three of my siblings were marked unexcused for missing school do to the smoke. It only takes one teacher, for what ever period to mark a student absent (per education code), at their discretion. Its been nine years since I graduted high school, and I still get annoyed by these teachers.
So how is it any different for the kids to be at home? They’re still going to be breathing the same smoke, and so are staff. Is it really too much of a hardship for the staff to deal with the kids in these extenuating circumstances? What about all the people manning shelters and giving out supplies to fire victims. Come on, people, be willing to sacrifice a little!
From a teacher, it is “not too much of a hardship for the staff to deal with the kids in these extenuating circumstances”. We can deal with so much more than you know. We are also willing to sacrifice not just a little but a lot. Try visiting a public school classroom. The county decided to close the schools not the teachers. BTW, so many of our students have bad asthma and they were having a problem breathing just sitting at a desk. So as I work from home today more distracted than I would be in my classroom please consider who you are casting blame on. Look out for your children, keep them indoors. Enjoy your Thanksgiving break with your children.
Jane. Whine much? We show up under any circumstance including a shooting threat. Maybe you don’t understand the consequences of air quality twice the unhealthy percent. If is is not necessary to expose them then why do it. SMH
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