Schools In Mt. Diablo Unified Open Monday Amid Shutoff

CONCORD, CA — In the face of poor air quality from nearby fires, and a weekend weather-related public safety power shutoff that has left at least two schools in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District without power, Superintendent Robert Martinez said all district schools were open Monday.

Martinez said the district is continuing to track the air quality for Contra Costa County each hour.

"While we are aware that advisories have been put out by the Contra Costa County Offices of Emergency Services our primary goal was to provide a safe place for students to be today, and to work to normalize events as much as possible," Martinez said.

"Our schools have been provided with information and guidance regarding limiting school activities during poor air quality days."

Absences Monday because of air quality will be excused, the superintendent said.

"We understand that a number of families with students with sensitive issues may make the decision to keep their students home today, and we are planning to excuse absences today as the AQI is the primary reason for the absence," Martinez said.

As of about 9:30 a.m., Northgate High School, Foothill Middle School and Shore Acres Elementary did not have power.

"We do understand that a number of [Northgate High] families have decided to keep their students home, or to pick their children up from school today," Martinez said. "Again, our intent was to ensure that all students did have a safe place to be with adult supervision. Our administrative team, educators, and support staff are to be commended for being so flexible during this time. We are working to better understand the situation, and will update families directly from the site within the hour."

The MDUSD Food and Nutrition Services Departments were working to ensure meals will be provided to students who are in attendance at both Shore Acres and Foothill Middle, the superintendent said.

In a message Sunday night, Martinez acknowledged that "several of our neighborhoods throughout our community did have power shut down over the weekend as part of PG&E’s 'Public Safety Power Shut-down.'"

"Several other communities also lost power to other issues such as downed trees or sporadic fires. Unfortunately, this may be our new 'normal,' given the information we have received from PG&E," he said.

Martinez said district officials continue to track any power outages and any potential issues that may have developed because of high winds at schools.

Martinez said he has been in communication with Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schoools Lynn Mackey as well as most districts superintendents in the county.

" ... We are all working together as we learn how to adjust to these new circumstances throughout California," Martinez said. "I believe that our students and families look to us to remain calm, stay open if at all possible, and provide a sense of continuity for our children."

The district is also in "constant contact" with the Contra Costa County Office of Emergency Services, and will provide families with updates should things change, the superintendent said.

Martinez acknowledged that many staff members may be without power in their homes, or may be worried about extended family members impacted by fires and power outages across the state.

"We are keeping everyone who has been impacted by these events in our thoughts, and know that it is never difficult to work through issues that seem to take control out of our hands," Martinez said.

"I want to thank you all in advance for your flexibility, patience, caring and professionalism as we start another challenging week," Martinez said. "We know that positive adult attitudes make challenging circumstances easier to mitigate for our students, their families, and our colleagues."

PG&E has announced another fire-weather related shutdown beginning Tuesday, Oct. 29 that would affect Contra Costa County and 34 other California counties.

"... Due to the dynamic and changing weather conditions, and high fire risk, some customers who are currently out of power may remain out throughout the duration of the next potential PSPS event," PG&E officials said Monday morning.