Most PVUSD schools will reopen on Wednesday with evacuation orders lifted in Santa Cruz and Monterey County
WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON JAN. 17 AT 3:06 PM: Pajaro Unified School District shared with KION that Hall District Elementary and Ohlone Elementary Schools will reopen on Wednesday.
District officials did say that Pajaro Middle School will still be closed on Wednesday due to evacuation warnings that are still in place in Monterey County.
UPDATE ON JAN. 16, 2023 AT 4:56 PM: Most Pajaro Valley Unified School District schools will reopen on Tuesday after evacuation warnings in Watsonville were lifted on Monday night.
District superintendent Dr. Michelle Rodriguez said that three schools will remain closed due to evacuation orders in Monterey County.
The schools that will be closed on Tuesday include
- Hall District Elementary School
- Ohlone Elementary School
- Pajaro Middle School
There will be regular bus transportation for schools that are open on Tuesday.
The district is also offering access to learning for students who attend closed schools at the YMCA in Watsonville. They have created Academic Learning Labs that offer academic and enrichment programming to support learning for TK-8th grade students.
To learn about more you can email extendedlearning@pvusd.net.
UPDATE ON JAN. 9, 2023 AT 5:14 PM: The Pajaro Valley Unified School District announced that all schools will be closed on Tuesday due to current flood advisory warnings.
The following reasons were given for the closure by the district:
• Time to reassess sites and repair minor damages
• Closed roads or roads with unsafe passage
• Power Outages
• Breaching of local creeks and the Pajaro River
Tuesday afternoon it will be determined which, if any schools, remain closed Wednesday. Staff and families will be notified of the districts decision once it has been made.
Dear PVUSD families, staff and community,
Today is unprecedented for many of us as we continue to navigate storm conditions,
Pajaro Valley Unified School District
power outages, evacuations and rising river and creek levels. PVUSD teams geared up
conducting assessments of weather conditions, road conditions, and evacuation orders
all day Saturday and Sunday including Sunday late into the evening. The team
intensively worked early Monday morning to make the best possible determination of
which schools should be closed at that time. The National Weather Service Flash Flood
Alert at 6:52 AM triggered the decision to close all schools at 7:08 AM. We recognize
this was a rapid shift in decision making to ensure the health and safety of our students,
staff and families which remains a top priority in these quickly changing circumstances.
UPDATE ON JAN. 9, 2023 AT 11:14 AM: Pajaro Valley Unified School District announced that all schools are closed on Monday.
Evacuated sites will continue to be closed on Tuesday. District officials did say they will assess conditions and update early Tuesday morning.
UPDATE ON JAN. 8, 2023 AT 5:47 PM: Pajaro Valley Unifed School District announced that they will be closing multiple schools due to the current flood advisory warnings in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.
On Sunday afternoon, The school district sent out an email to staff and students on multiple schools being closed on Monday and Tuesday due to the incoming weather conditions.
The district office and departments will not be closed. All other schools that are not in the flood advisory areas will have classes on Monday morning. District officials will assess weather conditions to see if it is safe to return to school on Wednesday morning.
"The decision to close select sites within potential flood zones and evacuation zones is made to allow families to safeguard their children as a top priority at this time," Dr. Michelle Rodriguez said in an email to students and staff. "We recognize these storms are creating unique and changing conditions and the list of affected schools, flood zones and evacuation areas can change."
Here are the following schools that will be closed on Monday Jan. 8 and Tuesday Jan. 9
Elementary Schools
- Ann Soldo Elementary School, 1140 Menasco Dr, Watsonville, CA 95076
- Hall District Elementary School, 300 Sill Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076
- Ohlone Elementary School, 21 Bay Farms Rd, Royal Oaks, CA 95076
- Calabasas Elementary School, 202 Calabasas Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076
- MacQuiddy Elementary School, 330 Martinelli St, Watsonville, CA 95076
Middle Schools
- Lakeview Middle School, 2350 E Lake Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076
- Pajaro Middle School, 250 Salinas Rd, Pajaro, CA 95076
High School
Watsonville High School, 250 E Beach St, Watsonville, CA 95076
Alternative Schools
Post-Secondary Education at Watsonville Youth Center, 30 Maple Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076
Pacific Coast Charter School, 294 Green Valley Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076
Infant Development Center at Watsonville High School, 250 E Beach St, Watsonville, CA 95076
Independent Study Virtual Academy, office located at Watsonville High School, 250 E Beach Street, Watsonville, CA 95076.
Adult Education Center at the School District Office, 294 Green Valley Road, Watsonville, CA 95076
District officials said buses will still operate to transport students for schools that are open on Monday. However, buses will not be traveling or making stops within any evacuation zone or flooded areas.
Officials did say that families will receive a message immediately from the transportation department or site leadership.
Staff at those closed schools will receive direct communication by email or text from their supervisors. The school district office staff will receive communication from their supervisors with details to ensure student safety.
If you are unsure if your child's school is in an evacuation zone, click here.
ORGINAL STORY
Pajaro Valley Unified School District may close some facilities for Monday after the City of Watsonville issued a flood advisory warning Saturday for parts of Watsonville.
"Good afternoon, PVUSD families. It is our hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. PVUSD is closely collaborating with the City of Watsonville to monitor flood levels and any evacuation orders impacting our families and schools," said the school district in a statement sent to students and parents. "This morning, the City of Watsonville issued a flood advisory warning."
The following schools and departments could potentially be closed Monday due to being in the area under the advisory:
- District Office
- Pacific Coast Charter School
- Ann Soldo Elementary School
- Watsonville High School
- Maintenance & Operations Offices
PVUSD said they would inform families if the coming storm impacts these sites and will make their decision on Sunday to close those facilities. Classes will resume normally for schools, not in the impacted areas.
