Mount Diablo Unified, Oakland Unified school districts announce campus closures

In an automated call to parents Friday morning, Mount Diablo Unified School District Superintendent Robert Martinez said that all schools will be closed to student instruction as of Tuesday.

Monday was previously scheduled as a professional development day, making Friday the last day instruction.

Martinez said that despite there being no confirmed novel coronavirus cases among the district’s students or staff, the formal closure was decided “out of an abundance of caution.”

In the call and in a statement posted on the MDUSD website, Roberts said:

“We do not make this decision lightly, as we understand that school closures can be difficult on our families. We believe that this decision is in the best interest of our students and we will continue to monitor the situation and to communicate openly with our community.”

MDUSD operates 31 elementary schools, nine middle schools, five high schools, two adult schools and 15 alternatives schools and programs in Concord and Clayton, and in parts of Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Pittsburg, Lafayette, Martinez, Pacheco, Clyde and Bay Point.

According to Martinez, the district will maintain some student services, including meals offered at select campuses. Additional information regarding the closure duration and services offered is expected Monday afternoon.

Oakland Unified School District officials also announced Monday that as of 6 p.m., all schools and child development centers will close through at least April 5. According to the statement, district offices will remain open but public in-person access will be limited.

The closure decision was made in collaboration with the Alameda County health and emergency departments, city leaders and Mayor Libby Schaaf. The campuses will be thoroughly cleaned during the closure.

All OUSD employees are expected to continue working and students will be provided with assignments to be completed at home, the statement said.

The district’s Nutrition Services Department will make “grab and go” breakfast and lunch meals available for students at 12 schools during the districtwide closure. A complete list of OUSD schools is provided online.