All schools in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties will be closed from Monday, March 16 through April 24 in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s directive Thursday afternoon.
In a 2 p.m. news conference, Inslee ordered closure of schools in the three counties to slow the transmission of the coronavirus, enabling healthcare agencies to address needs in the severely impacted region.
Following Inslee’s address, Kent School District Superintendent Calvin Watts announced the closure of Kent schools in a video posting.
“The coronavirus outbreak is an unprecedented regional crisis, and we’ll get through this together,” Watts said. “ I understand this regional closure may raise questions about school meals, graduation, childcare needs for our families, educational support and resources and much more. I also understand that this plan may create hardship for many families. I appreciate your patience and your cooperation as we continue to work with our state and local partners on all possible solutions.”
Watts said the district will provide more information and updates in the days and weeks ahead.
“The actions we are being asked to take by our governor as individuals and as school leaders are for the purpose of slowing the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our community and to save lives,” Watts said.
The KSD released the following information:
Starting Monday, March 16, all schools in KSD will close through April 24. Please note, Friday, March 13 is a non-student day as normally scheduled. All school offices will be open Friday, March 13 through Wednesday, March 18 to allow for parents, students and staff to be able to retrieve medication and other essential personal items that they need to have with them while schools are closed.
Beginning Thursday, March 19 there will be no access KSD facilities unless otherwise communicated.
We understand that this plan will create hardship for many families, and we appreciate your patience and cooperation.
What this means for students
Thursday, March 12 is the last day of school for the foreseeable future. We are allowing parents, staff and students opportunities to collect learning materials and personal items they might need Monday, March 16 through Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
We are working to prepare activities and resources for students for the prolonged absence. This will not take the place of regular classroom instruction but will supplement student learning at home. Assignments will not be required or graded. These activities are meant to provide optional opportunities for student learning while they are absent from school.
This includes the cancellation of all out-of-district transportation, school events, community rentals, athletic practices, and competitions.
We are finalizing plans to support our families during the closure in the following ways:
• Providing meals to our students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals
• Providing childcare for our families who need to continue working during our closure.
• Providing support to our 12th-grade students to ensure they complete graduation requirements, if we are directed to do so by the Washington State Board of Education.
Public health guidance
• We encourage you to continue to follow existing guidelines to protect your own health. The Centers for Disease Control recommends:
• Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds; use alcohol-based sanitizer if no water is available
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact (within 6 feet) with those who are sick
• Stay home if sick
• Cover cough or sneeze with tissue, throw tissue in trash, wash hands
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched object and surfaces
Healthcare resources
Here is a resource for families who may want to see a doctor but don’t have one and/or those who need to enroll in public or low-cost health insurance.
Community Health Access Program (CHAP) is a telephone assistance program serving King County residents by connecting them to health insurance, health care services and other resources. CHAP services are free and confidential. They can also connect you to free or low-cost medical providers and also assist with enrolling you in public or low-cost health insurance For more information, phone 1-800-756-5437 or email CHAP@kingcounty.gov.
Stay connected
As part of our coronavirus response, we will be sending frequent updates with information and resources via email, text messages, the website and social media channels. We want to express our appreciation for the patience of our KSD community as we work through the daily challenges the coronavirus has presented us.
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