Wildfire Closed Schools Get Relief From Department Of Education

California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, announced Tuesday that the California Department of Education will help all school districts forced to close as a result of wildfires in Orange County. By doing so, the closed schools will still qualify for relief from the loss of state Average Daily Attendance (ADA) student funding. Torlakson reinforced a message that he initially sent on Monday to districts facing fires in Northern California, but added Orange County schools to his statement.

“These fires create devastating damage, but I want to remind school districts all over our state that they can recoup ADA funds if they must close school sites,” Torlakson said. “We will assist school administrators through the process of applying for waivers due to school closures.”

Several schools closed in Orange County due to a fire that as of Tuesday morning had burned about 7,500 acres and destroyed several homes in Anaheim, Orange and Tustin.

Other fires have also forced school closures in Napa County and in Sonoma County, where the city of Santa Rosa suffered widespread damage. The California Department of Education (CDE) Nutrition Services Division on Tuesday sent two truckloads of frozen food and dry goods to the Redwood Empire Food Bank in Santa Rosa to assist fire victims.

• Northern California Wildfires Latest: 15 Believed Dead; 1,500+ Homes Destroyed; Evacuations Continue

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