Providence High School extends campus shutdown to the end of the academic year
Providence High School officials announced Tuesday that the campus will remain closed throughout the academic year.
Initially, Providence High shut down the school for students, faculty and staff beginning March 16, and school officials said they planned to return to in-person classes on April 20.
“When we first initiated distance learning, we announced our hope to return to school and resume normal operations on Monday, April 20, but the truth is this: We simply don’t know when it will be safe to return to campus and we will continue with remote learning and physical distancing through the end of the semester,” said Scott McLarty, head of school at Providence, in a statement.
On March 16, Providence High students began an online learning curriculum called Block Online Learning Days. Students follow a set schedule from home. Teachers assign online classwork with deadlines as well as run live class sessions using Microsoft Teams for video conferencing.
School officials are working with seniors to plan alternative ways to celebrate end-of-year activities, including graduation.
Providence High is following suit with recommendations from local health and education departments.
Last week, Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County’s superintendent of schools, announced her recommendation to close all campuses through the academic year. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond echoed the same recommendation.
“Our public health leaders have made it clear that the peak of this pandemic is yet to come. As social-distancing practices remain vital, the safety of students and staff must continue to be our top priority,” Duardo said.
“Deciding now to keep campuses closed for the remainder of the school year allows our education community to focus on accelerating learning in a remote environment and finding new ways to engage and connect with students,” she added.
