Seattle Public Schools Board approves reopening plan for fall
May 26, 2021, 12:53 PM | Updated: May 27, 2021, 10:29 am
Students leave Thurgood Marshall Elementary after all Seattle Public Schools were closed due to coronavirus fears on March 11, 2020, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
The school board for the state’s largest school district, Seattle Public Schools, voted to approve a temporary safety plan for fully resuming in-person classes this fall.
182 COVID-19 outbreaks at K-12 schools in Washington since last August
Some of the proposed changes will include removing daily health screenings for students, staff, and visitors, moving to three feet of social distancing instead of six feet in order to accommodate more students in classrooms, additional staffing, and continuing to require masks.
“Right now, the guidance directs us that all students, staff, and visitors will be required to wear a face covering while at school,” an SPS representative said before the vote.
The Washington State Department of Health released new requirements for K-12 schools earlier in May, pushing for schools statewide to return with “full time in-person education for all interested students” at the start of the 2021-22 school year this fall.
Shortly before the DOH released that guidance, Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones announced the district’s own plans for returning to full time in-person classes this fall.
State DOH urges schools to reopen fully by fall
Although the bulk of students will be returning to classrooms fully, SPS will continue to offer a virtual learning option as well for those who want it.
The KIRO Radio Newsdesk contributed to this report.
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