OLYMPIA — State schools Superintendent Chris Reykdal on Thursday told districts to plan for in-person instruction when classes resume this fall.
In a news conference, Reykdal shared recommendations of a large task force representing broad interests across the education sector. The group determined students in Washington state could safely return to classes with appropriate health precautions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
"The presumption is we're coming back. Districts will plan for this," Reykdal said. "Today in partnership with the Department of Health, the governor's office, Labor & Industries, we built a policy framework that will allow for our schools to open across the state this fall. It is, of course, a function of our health outcomes. We all have to do our part."
Health screenings, masks and social distancing will be part of the school day. There's the possibility that desks in classrooms will be 6 feet apart, and larger classes may need to be held in gyms or other common areas.
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Reykdal said districts will develop back-to-school plans considering their local student population and community needs. Plans, contingent on approval from local health agencies must be submitted for review to the Washington State Board of Education.
In districts that can't meet the health requirements, either because of their facilities or because of an outbreak of COVID-19, the state recommends scenarios that include a phased opening, for example bringing elementary students back first, split schedules or what Reykdal called "Continuous Learning 2.0." The last option would resemble the online learning schools adopted this spring at the height of the pandemic but with improvements gleaned from reviewing what didn't work well.
Reykdal said in-person instruction was a possibility because of Washington state's rapid response to the pandemic. Referencing the Black Lives Matter movement, he said districts' plans should focus on equity, and public officials at the state and federal level should prioritize education funding for underserved communities.
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Reykdal said the expectation is that sports will return in the fall, but the guidelines, being developed with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, are not available yet.
The Department of Health has determined it's safe for kids to ride buses with precautions in place like screenings, masks, plexiglass to protect drivers, opening windows whenever possible and frequent cleaning. Reykdal added that schools are advised to expand the boundaries within which students are encouraged to walk or bike to school or be dropped off by their parents.
Families who don't feel comfortable sending their kids back in person will be given alternative options for instruction, Reykdal said.
"This is not going to be easy," he said. "Let me reiterate, we're opening this fall provided it is safe. First and foremost we have to keep our students and our staff safe."
Kitsap and North Mason school leaders have said they were waiting on the state's guidance to firm up plans for the fall. South Kitsap and North Mason superintendents have said, with the guidelines in hand, they expect they'll be able to share their districts' plans with families and staff by the end of June.
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"We hope to have a face-to-face experience for students, even if that is a hybrid face-to-face," North Mason's Superintendent Dana Rosenbach said in a Zoom meeting with parents on Wednesday night, before Reykdal announced the guidelines. "We can't rely on a completely online learning experience. Our kids need multiple modalities and choices, and our students need to hear and see and communicate with classmates.
Feedback from North Mason parents had two common themes. Parents have felt overwhelmed after being thrust into the role of homeschool teachers often while working from home. Communication and expectations have been inconsistent from one teacher to the next and one grade level to the next, they said.
Rosenbach responded that the shift to online learning this spring was rolled out under pressure. She acknowledged shortcomings and said the district hopes to do better this fall with more time to plan.
Connectivity is a problem for rural North Mason, Rosenbach said. The district has been working with PUD 3 and the state to extend Internet access.
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Other districts in Kitsap County had not committed as of Thursday morning to a timeline for announcing back-to-school plans.
"Our timeline for finalizing plans is subject to the guidance we receive from OSPI," Central Kitap School District spokesman David Beil said Wednesday. "We have a lot of work to do between now and September. At this point, we are awaiting guidance from OSPI and from the Washington State Department of Health. We’ll be examining that guidance as soon as we receive it. We will complete this review as quickly as possible so we can provide our staff and families with the information they’ll need as our planning moves forward."
Central Kitsap plans to survey families on the options outlined by the state. The district is forming workgroups to address the elements of back-to-school planning and will involve parents in this process, Beil said, adding that the district's decisions will be driven by guidance from the DOH and OSPI.
"Inside those parameters, we will also reflect what we’re hearing from our families," Beil said. "Every district and community is different, and we will work together to ensure we are responding to the needs of our students and their families.
Chris Henry reports on education and community news for the Kitsap Sun. Reach her at (360) 792-9219 or christina.henry@kitsapsun.com. Support coverage of local news by signing up today for a digital subscription.
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Washington schools told to plan for in-person classes this fall - Kitsap Sun
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