Christian school in Merced holds in-person classes, despite Gov. Newsom’s COVID-19 order

A Merced private school on Monday resumed in-person classes, despite orders by Merced County health officials and Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Stone Ridge Christian Schools opened its doors to students with a sign that read “Welcome Back Knights,” the school’s mascot, despite Merced County being on a watch list with more than 30 other counties where the coronavirus has continued to spread.

Lines of cars could be seen dropping off students at the school’s Dan Ward Road high school campus Tuesday morning. Most of the people witnessed by the Sunstar on Tuesday were wearing masks.

Merced County Health Officer Salvador Sandoval said Tuesday the school is in violation of state orders, and said he’s received numerous complaints about the campus re-opening.

“The actions of one affect all. There is no such thing as an inconsequential action,” Sandoval said in a statement. “Now is not the time to open up instruction in direct defiance of issued orders and in direct opposition of best practices.”

“(Merced County Department of Public Health) strongly condemns this act, which places students, staff and the surrounding community at increased health risk during this COVID-19 pandemic.”

Newsom earlier this year mandated that schools in counties on the state’s monitoring list are prohibited to open with in-person classes because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. For now, all local schools -- both public and private -- must provide instruction through distance learning, until the county is taken off the state monitoring list.

A letter from the school to parents went out on July 29, saying the school on Dan Ward Road near Santa Fe Drive intended to resume classes on Aug. 12.

That opening date was delayed, after the campus received notice from the Merced County Department of Public Health stating that opening the school would be a violation of an order from the California Department of Health, according to an email sent to parents Aug. 10.

School officials said back in July they developed a task force to study a safe re-opening amid COVID-19, according to a letter to parents.

“The task force has kept up to date on the latest guidelines coming from various organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Merced County Health and Human Services Agency, the California Department of Education (CDE), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and others,” the letter said.

Sandoval’s Tuesday statement said otherwise. He said school officials have not participated in meetings or sought guidance from county health officials on how to open.

The county got a copy of the school’s plan for reopening and it does not follow the guidelines set out by health or county school officials, according to Sandoval.

Mike Henjum, head of the school, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Stone Ridge is not the only faith-based school in the Valley that’s challenged the state mandate to continue school online only.

Mennonite-faith-based K-12 Immanuel Schools in Reedley reopened Aug. 13 for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began in March. On the first day, students could be seen getting their temperatures checked on the way onto campus.

The Fresno County Department of Public Health ordered the private school to close. Health officials warned that violating the health order can result in fines and penalties, increased liability for the school and school board, “and possibly forced closure.”

Central Valley Christian Schools in Visalia said it will open its campus to students on Sept. 8, operating under the rules of a day camp, despite the state order requiring public and private schools on California’s coronavirus watch list to remain closed.

Tulare County health department has previously said it is not granting any waivers, as coronavirus cases steadily continue in the region.