Paso Robles schools will remain closed through end of school year

PASO ROBLES, Calif. - The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District announced that schools will remain closed, and continue distance learning, through at least June 4.

This was determined after SLO County announced its three-phase plan for reopening the county called the START Guide.

The START Guide lists specific criteria that have to be met in order for the County Public Health Officer to allow the county to enter the next phase of reopening. This multi-step process is to help keep COVID-19 numbers low while slowly allowing businesses and activities to resume like normal.

In the START Guide, reopening schools comes during Phase Two which won’t start until at least 30 days after Phase One is initiated. At this time, the county is in "Pre-Phase 1" which will continue until the statewide shelter at home order is lifted.

Since Phase One will not be happening soon, and thus Phase Two, the School District formally determined that they will not be able to reopen during the current school year. This was also confirmed by Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein during a news conference on Friday.

The School District said the Extended School Year for Special Education and credit recovery this summer will be conducted online through Distance Learning. Any other site-based educational programs set to take place before August and the school's scheduled return are also highly unlikely to take place.