Students and educators will celebrate their return to school on Monday, December 3, after several traumatizing weeks of displacement following the catastrophic Camp Fire. Members of the media are invited to multiple press availabilities for covering this event.
We recognize the impact media reporting can have in the healing process for our educational family. They have been through a lot and are suffering in varying degrees from anxiety, confusion, fear, sadness, injury, and grief over the losses they have incurred, the harrowing evacuation they experienced, and the devastation they have seen.
We know you want to document for your listeners, viewers and readers the story of Butte County Schools second “first day of school” in 2018. But, we need your help to ease their transition back into the learning process.
Please be sensitive to the potential harm your presence can have on the emotional well-being of adults and children. Understand that even seeing the media at school might trigger concerns that they are once again facing a crisis situation. Almost anyone you will talk with has been personally affected by the Camp Fire and now the flooding. Many have also lost their homes, or are dealing with family members who have. We have victims serving and helping victims. We ask that you respect the privacy of our traumatized and emotionally fragile students, parents, and school staff as our school communities reunite by remaining off our closed campuses.
However, to assist you we have designated three locations where media can have video, photo and interview availabilities as schools reopen. Be advised that we are not allowing coverage along school bus routes. Please treat our children and adults as you would you own family. We thank you, in advance, for your understanding and support.
A Media Center for credentialed media will be open from 7:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is located at 1859 Bird Street, Oroville, CA 95965.