As we plan for the 2020-21 school year, the goal is to have students back in the classroom -- there is no substitute for in-person teaching and learning. But school may look different from what we’re used to, and we are planning for multiple scenarios, including the possibility of another shut-down.
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction recently released guidance on how school districts across Washington should reopen schools in the fall. The overarching expectation is for schools to open for in-person instruction if health and safety requirements can be met. In-person instruction depends on our ability to meet health and safety requirements set by state and local health authorities. Such requirements include face coverings, symptom checks, physical distancing, proper hygiene practices and cleaning/disinfecting procedures.
We are preparing for several different operational and instructional scenarios. To help in our planning, the District has assembled an instructional taskforce to evaluate instructional models and, just recently, a health and safety taskforce to evaluate operational aspects of reopening safely in the fall.
Guiding Principles for Reopening
• Prioritize anti-racist practices, including identity safety, culturally responsive teaching practices, and equity-minded (equity-driven) resource allocation
• Provide high-quality, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate social emotional and academic learning
• Reduce anxiety and stress for students, families, and staff providing predictability, and consistency while acknowledging the needs of families returning to work
• Assure the health and safety (physical, intellectual, and emotional) of our students, families, and staff is a top priority
• Mitigate, monitor, and manage spread of COVID-19