Schools Aid Communities Affected by Southern California Fires

Emergency assistance announced by State Superintendent Jack O’Connell

West Sacramento, CA –The California School Boards Association offers its sincere condolences to those impacted by the wildfires ravaging communities throughout Southern California this week. To date, approximately two dozen schools have been closed and four high school sites have been converted to become evacuation centers.

“It is during devastating times like these that our school leaders work hand-in-hand with local, state and federal government agencies to assist people during their time of greatest need,” said Scott P. Plotkin, CSBA executive director. “Schools not only act as staging grounds for emergency officials and evacuation centers, but school staff offer the support needed for students to cope with the aftermath of such disasters.”

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced today emergency assistance is available on several levels to help public schools affected by the wildfires in Southern California. The emergency assistance will include:

• School facilities will not lose Average Daily Attendance funding if they are used as community shelters or forced to close because of the wildfires.
• Districts may also receive ADA credit for all purposes and instructional time credit for the days and minutes lost due to an emergency closure.
• Superintendent O’Connell stated that he will support any legislative efforts to help schools get fiscal relief if they cannot meet their class-size requirements.
• Superintendent O’Connell will work with affected districts participating in the National School Lunch Program because they may qualify for additional assistance such as serving meals at no charge to students rendered homeless, and can be designated as community feeding sites.

For more information about the emergency assistance go to http://www.cde.ca.gov/index.asp

“The safety of our students and school officials is priority number one during a disaster,” said Dr. Kathy Kinley, CSBA president. “That is why CSBA developed an Emergencies and Disaster Preparedness Plan for our members.” The recommended policy includes how superintendents or designees ensure that district and school site plans address an array of disasters, including fires both on and off school property. The policy also specifies the roles and responsibilities of school staff during a disaster along with personal safety and security protocols for staff.