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3 San Francisco Schools Cancel Class Due To Coronavirus; District Cancels All 'Nonessential Events'

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Officials at three San Francisco high schools have cancelled classes for Monday over concerns surrounding the current coronavirus outbreak. Classes will not be held at Archbishop Riordan High, Lowell High and ICA Cristo Rey High.

A spokesperson for the San Francisco Unified School District announced Sunday that the district will cancel all "nonessential events," such as assemblies, field trips, athletic and performance events (including practice), and other school/community meetings, for the next two weeks.

The school district said they may consider conducting assemblies via webcast or intercom announcements.

Riordan officials announced on Saturday they were canceling Monday classes and closing the school's campus after a student's parents tested positive for the coronavirus.

"On Saturday afternoon it was reported that parents of a Riordan student tested positive for the COVID-19 virus," a note sent to parents read. "We determined the best course of action was to close the school on Monday...and in an abundance of caution do a deep cleaning of the campus."

Lowell High, meanwhile, was closed last week when school officials learned the parent of a student was being treated for coronavirus.

"Out of an abundance of caution and for the safety and well-being of our community, we have decided to close the school and all events and gatherings for the time being," a message to parents read.

On Sunday a followup email to parents said: "We have done and will continue to do enhanced cleaning to ensure the campus is clean before it reopens."

"I understand it, but I think my concern is the 'abundance of caution' terminology they're using," said Tony Macdonald, a parent of two Lowell students. MacDonald said he hopes school officials are making their decisions based on the facts.

"I know the kids love having another day off but I think we really need to look and see what is really going on. We can't shut down our lives for something we know is of concern and that we don't know that it warrants that level of concern," he said.

ICA Cristo Rey officials said they were shutting down for the private, all-girls Catholic school for two weeks after learning a staffer had tested positive for COVID-19.

Also on Saturday over in Sacramento County, Elk Grove Unified School District -- the state's 5th largest school district -- announced it was closing its schools for the upcoming week amid coronavirus concerns.

"We will also move up our April Traditional/Modified Traditional Spring Break to the week of March 9 to March 13 to minimize the impact to student learning and any loss of school days," the district said in a statement. "Future adjustments to the school calendar may need to be made."

School officials at two other Bay Area schools were force to cancel classes last week.

In San Mateo County, concerns over the virus led to the closure of a Menlo School in Atherton for the rest of the week starting Wednesday.

On Monday, the Healdsburg School, a private K-8 institution in Sonoma County, closed its doors after an adult connected to the school had close contact with a patient diagnosed with the virus.

On Saturday, Gov. Gavin Newsom sent out a message to California educators.

"It's a question of when – not if – some California public schools will face closure because of COVID-19," Newsom wrote. "School districts must prepare for these scenarios so that parents and children can plan for what would happen if their local school faced closure."

"It's also not lost on anyone that these scenarios would put significant stress on families -– especially those with the least financial resources," he continued. "Already, we are seeing how this outbreak is having significant economic impact on families, workers, businesses and communities across California. The state of California is working around the clock to help shoulder the burden that Californians are facing during this crisis. We really are all in this together."

Meanwhile, concerns over the coronavirus are also having an indirect effect on schools.

The Sherman Elementary School PTA had to cancel its annual fundraiser Saturday night because it was being held at the War Memorial Opera House, a city venue, and officials have called for the cancellation of large gatherings.

The PTA put some of its auction items online.

Still, the fundraiser cancellation puts tens of thousands of dollars at risk at a time of budget cuts, said Vivan Nevin, the PTA community outreach chair at Sherman Elementary School.

"It's very crucial, this fundraising. We pay for teachers, staff, computer science, enrichment classes like art and dance. It's really important," she said. "For this to be cancelled, it's just devastating."

KPIX 5's Joe Vazquez contributed to this report.

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