The Kent School District closed a classroom at two more elementary schools this week due to COVID-19 cases.
Here is the details from the district’s website:
• Cedar Valley Elementary, 26500 Timberlane Way SE, Covington
Status: As of Jan. 19, one classroom is closed on the recommendation of Public Health. Otherwise, the building is open and offering in-person instruction to students in the remaining classrooms. The school contacted all impacted families of the closed classrooms on Jan. 19. The classroom will reopen for in-person learning Jan. 25.
• Sawyer Woods Elementary, 31135 228th Ave. SE, Black Diamond
Status: As of Jan. 18, one classroom is closed on the recommendation of Public Health. Otherwise, the building is open and offering in-person instruction to students in the remaining classrooms. The school contacted all impacted families of the closed classrooms on Jan. 18. The classroom will reopen for in-person learning Jan. 25.
While based in Kent, the district also has schools in Covington, Black Diamond, SeaTac and Renton. District officials do not release the grade of the class or the number of students impacted.
The district closed Pine Tree Elementary to in-person learning Jan. 18-21 due to multiple COVID-19 cases. It was the first entire shutdown of a school due to COVID-19 during the 2021-2022 school year.
The district closed two classrooms last week at Soos Creek Elementary, one classroom at Ridgewood Elementary and one classroom at Meridian Elementary. Most of those classes are scheduled to return Jan. 24 to in-person learning from remote instruction.
The district has the following policy for closure of a classroom after consultation with Public Health – Seattle & King County will be considered when:
• Three or more students or staff in the same room/area test positive for COVID-19
• The cases have symptoms that start within 14 days of each other
• The cases are not associated with one another in another setting (household, club, etc.)
If a full class needs to quarantine or a school is directed to temporarily close in response to COVID-19 transmission, then:
• Staff and families will be notified by phone, letter, and/or email of the classroom closure
• Students will shift to the 100% remote model used during the 2020-21 school year
• Schedules will mirror current 2021-22 in-person schedules
• Teachers will have two days to transition to synchronous remote learning, and learning will begin online fully by the third day for impacted classrooms
• Classroom closures will typically last 5-10 days
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