HUSD to shutter all schools amidst coronavirus concerns
HEMET — Amidst growing concerns of how to mitigate the potential for spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Hemet Unified School District officials today announced that the decision has been made to close schools to students effective Monday, March 16. The closure will continue through Friday, April 3. Spring Break will continue as scheduled April 6-10. Regular school hours will resume on April 13.
Although no area students have tested positive for the coronavirus, District officials explained the decision to close all its schools was made “after long and careful deliberation.”
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“This closure is for precautionary measures, and currently there are no known cases of novel coronavirus in our district,” District officials said in an announcement minutes ago; saying, “These measures are to help slow the progression of the virus and protect our students, staff, and community.”
The closure will include all extra-curricular activities, after school programs, and district-sponsored events during this time and the closure may result in adding instructional days to the end of the school year if required by the California Department of Education, according to officials.
While announcing the closure, HUSD said District officials will provide guidance early next week about supplementary resources, digital and non-digital, that can be used at home to review and reinforce knowledge and skills learned this school year.
Students and families will not be required to use these resources but are welcome to do so, according to officials.
Students should take any books, supplies, and personal belongings – including medications – home with them after school on Friday, March 13; but school sites will be open during regular hours on Monday, March 16, to allow families to pick up medication and other student belongings as appropriate.
During the closure, Nutrition Services will continue to provide breakfast and lunch meals “as a drive/walk-thru type of meal service” free of charge to children 18 years of age and under.
Breakfast and lunch will be served at the same time Monday through Friday at every school location from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., except at the Western Center location.
For those driving, HUSD has asked that you stay in your car and bagged meals will be provided for each child present.
If you have students at multiple schools, you only need to visit one location, but children need to be present to receive a meal.
During this closure, all sites will be cleaned and disinfected as a precautionary measure, said District officials.
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Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.