Coronavirus Impact: Newsom confirms schools won't reopen, race is on to bridge digital divide

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- As distance learning becomes common practice, many question what is being done to bridge the digital divide.[br /][br /]On Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed schools across California will stay closed through the academic year. Many students have already adjusted to online learning, but the move is making it difficult to reach others without necessary resources.[br /][br /][b]RELATED:[url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/gov-gavin-newsom-addresses-covid-19-crisis-in-california/6068754/" TARGET="" REL=""] California schools closed through end of academic year, Gov. Newsom says[/url][/b][br /][Ads /][br /]Even in Silicon Valley- the center of tech and innovation- educators are trying their best with the tools they're able to offer.[br /][br /]Some might think student access to tech is typical throughout the region. However, local educators say that is not the case.[br /][br /]"I always tell people it's like going to Universal Studios," Martin Cisneros explained. "Where you see, 'Oh, here's Silicon Valley! Look at all this wonderful stuff.' But when you look behind, not all districts are created equal."[br /][br /][b]WATCH: Full interview with Martin Cisneros[/b][br /][media ID="6070210" /][br /][br /]Cisneros is the Director of Technology at Berryessa Union School District in San Jose.[br /][br /]He said the district has already deployed close to 1,000 Chromebooks to students who need them.[br /][br /]"The team developed a survey that went home and asked, 'Do you have connectivity? If you do, do you have a computer that you can use at home," Cisneros said.[br /][br /]Only one-quarter of the school district responded to the survey.[br /][br /]"We're now looking to vendors, whether it's T-Mobile, AT&T," Cisneros told ABC7 News. "Even some local parents who have their own companies are now coming out saying, 'We'll do this for free for the next few months, and it'll help you, it'll help me.'"[br /][br /][b]EXCLUSIVE: [url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/exclusive-emt-describes-life-on-coronavirus-front-lines/6069058/" TARGET="" REL=""]San Francisco Bay Area part-time EMT describes battling coronavirus on the front lines[/url][/b][br /][br /]Similar action was taken by SFUSD, as students in San Francisco received Chromebooks on loan to help with distance learning.[br /][Ads /][br /]However, providing a gadget won't make a difference if students don't have connectivity.[br /][br /]"We're now looking at vendors to see 'How can we get hot spots?' We're looking at solutions about: How can we radiate the WiFi that we have at different schools," Cisneros explained.[br /][br /]On Wednesday-- the State Superintendent of Public Instruction announced $100-million in funding will go to local educational agencies.[br /][br /]In a release, Superintendent Tony Thurmond said, "I am very grateful to the members of the state legislature for their rapid response in providing this essential funding to assist LEAs during this very challenging time."[br /][br /][b]RELATED: [url HREF="https://abc7news.com/education/coronavirus-teacher-goes-the-extra-mile-for-her-students-during-pandemic/6066902/" TARGET="" REL=""]Livermore Elementary school teacher goes the extra mile for her students during pandemic[/url][/b][br /][br /]According to the release, the money will allow district administrators to "ensure that sites are properly cleaned and sanitized, keep school staff safe, provide nutritious meals, and focus on implementing a distance learning infrastructure that is equitable and accessible to all students."[br /][br /]The funding was included in Senate Bill 117, one of two COVID-19 emergency bills passed by the California Legislature on March 17, 2020.[br /][br /]"We are in a crisis right now. And that, from my perspective, should be the focus," Evergreen Teachers Association President, Brian Wheatley told ABC7 News.[br /][br /]Wheatley said Silicon Valley tech giants are in a position to make a significant difference by simply providing resources. Mainly, tools that needed to keep every student on track.[br /][Ads /][br /]"I know we have many of those kids in Evergreen- we have many of those kids in Santa Clara County- they do not have a device," he said. "But even if we get them a device, they have no connectivity."[br /][br /]Wheatley spoke about how Evergreen teachers are eager to get back into their physical classrooms.[br /][br /]"They want to meet the needs of every single child. It's what they're good at," he said. "How do you do that through a two-dimensional screen?"[br /][br /][b]RELATED: [url HREF="https://abc7news.com/education/coronavirus-bay-area-libraries-expand-online-services-after-closing/6066478/" TARGET="" REL=""]Coronavirus Impact: SF Bay Area libraries expand online services after closing[/url][/b][br /][br /]Wheatley continued, "We know that this is not what's best for kids. We will make it work to the best of our ability. And parents... huge props!"[br /][br /]In the end, he said this prolonged distance learning will be a defining moment for young students. The goal will be to continue pushing for equal opportunity across all households.[br /][br /]"The worry is that this situation could actually expand that gap. Because we essentially, here in Silicon Valley, we are the center of all this wealth," Wheatley explained. "And yet, we are also the center of an incredible economic inequality."[br /][br /]Speaking to students, Wheatley acknowledged it's the responsibility of adults to figure out how to make the situation work, under the circumstances.[br /][br /]Overcome with emotion and understanding the responsibility, Wheatley shared this message with students, "If you can give us a little grace and a little time to figure this out... we would appreciate that."[br /][br /][/u][ul][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/live-coronavirus-updates-covid-19-news/5906450/" TARGET="" REL=""]Live updates about coronavirus outbreak in US,around the world[/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/coronavirus-everything-you-need-to-know-about-bay-areas-shelter-in-place-order/6019152/" TARGET="" REL=""]Everything you need to know about the Bay Area's shelter-in-place order[/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/finance/stimulus-check-calculator-how-much-money-to-expect-from-covid-19-bill/6056170/" TARGET="" REL=""]Stimulus calculator: How much money should you expect from coronavirus relief bill [/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/business/what-to-know-about-rent-payments-amid-coronavirus-outbreak/6069214/" TARGET="" REL=""]What Bay Area tenants need to know about rent payments, eviction amid COVID-19 outbreak[/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/live-coronavirus-updates-covid-19-news/5906450/" TARGET="" REL=""]Live updates about coronavirus outbreak in US,around the world[/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/heres-how-shelter-in-place-can-slow-coronavirus-spread/6028299/" TARGET="" REL=""]Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19[/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/coronavirus-pandemic-timeline-of-major-moments/6047519" TARGET="" REL=""]Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area/[/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/society/covid-19-diaries-new-normal-of-living-in-bay-area/6053824/" TARGET="" REL=""]Coronavirus and the new normal of livingin the San Francisco-Bay Area -- COVID-19 Diaries[/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/coronavirus-social-distancing-how-far-away-is-6-feet/6053554/" TARGET="" REL=""]Happy hour goes virtual as people try to be sociable while social distancing during COVID-19 crisis[/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/covid-19-heres-why-you-should-practice-social-distancing/6016230/" TARGET="" REL=""]Coronavirus Outbreak: Here's why you should practice 'social distancing'[/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/droneview7-bay-area-streets-silenced-by-coronavirus-shelter-in-place/6050808/" TARGET="" REL=""]DRONEVIEW7: What the Bay Area looks like during the coronavirus shelter-in-place[/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/coronavirus-abc7-drives-around-sf-as-city-shelters-in-place/6029526/" TARGET="" REL=""]ABC7's drive around San Francisco shows empty streets, businesses shuttered[/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/coronavirus-tips-what-americans-need-to-know/5971803/" TARGET="" REL=""]Symptoms, prevention, and how to prepare for a COVID-19 outbreak in the US [/url][/li][br /][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/coronavirus-closures-jcpenney-macys-temporarily-closing-stores/6015525/" TARGET="" REL=""]List of stores, companies closing due to coronavirus pandemic[/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/finance/cancelled-late-fees-free-services-available-amid-covid-19-crisis/6024729/" TARGET="" REL=""]Canceled late fees, free services available amid COVID-19 crisis [/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/coronavirus-crisis-how-you-can-help/6010878/" TARGET="" REL=""]Here's how you can help during COVID-19 pandemic[/url][/li] [li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/education/maintaining-learning-how-to-maintain-learning-during-school-closures/6011211/" TARGET="" REL=""]How to maintain learning during school closures [/url][/li] [li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/100+-products-that-protect-you-against-novel-coronavirus-germs/5973798/" TARGET="" REL=""]No masks but here are 100+ products that may help protect you against novel coronavirus germs [/url][/li] [li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/health/these-pandemics-killed-millions-around-the-world/5974174/" TARGET="" REL=""]Here's a look at some of history's worst pandemics that have killed millions[/url][/li][li][url HREF="https://abc7news.com/society/asian-community-fighting-racism-xenophobia-bigotry/6010825/" TARGET="" REL=""] Asian community fighting racism, xenophobia, bigotry as world fights COVID-19 [/url][/li][/ul]