Peninsula schools will call kindergartners and first-graders back to class Sept. 21

The Peninsula School District will restart in-person schooling for kindergartners and first-graders four days a week beginning Sept. 21, the district announced last week, only hours after getting a green light from the county health department.

Other grades will follow if case levels remain low, the district said.

“I am thrilled with some exciting news,” Superintendent Dr. Art Jarvis told parents in a video posted Friday evening, Sept. 4. “The current numbers from the Health Department appear to be working in the direction that would allow us to begin to return students to in-person attendance.”

The announcement by the district follows a letter sent Sept. 4 to all Pierce County school superintendents from the county’s health director, Dr. Anthony Chen, allowing for for a “slow and cautious” return to in-person schooling.

Dr. Chen said the rate of COVID-19 infections had slowed to the point where the health risk is now considered “moderate,” and school districts can plan “a gradual return to in-person education,” beginning with elementary students.

Infection rate falls

Dr. Chen noted that the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s 14-day case rate had fallen just within the target “moderate range” of 75 to 25 new cases per 100,000 population. It fell to 73.5 cases on Thursday, he said.

Jarvis said schools were to open on Tuesday, Sept. 8 with remote instruction as planned, but “principals and teachers also will be working to enable the return of our kindergarten and first grade children for whom the parents want in-person schooling.”

Special-education students will also be called back Sept. 1, the district said in a follow-up release.

“If the COVD-19 case rates remain stable or decrease, we will continue to invite students in other grades back in phases every two weeks.” said Aimee Gordon, the district spokesperson.

“Health and safety protocols will obviously be in place, and parents will receive details necessary to permit that attendance, beginning Sept. 21, if positive trends hold true,” Jarvis said.

“I want to remind all of our families, that there is a choice for them,” Jarvis continued. “The curriculum will be the same for in-person and remote. But there is an underlying message. if we return to school and the covid rates accelerate, we can lose this opportunity. Please help us all stay healthy.”

Jarvis promised more details would be posted on the district’s web site and emailed to parents by principals and teachers.

“The most important message that I have for you tonight is, it looks like we can do something that has not been possible since last March,” Jarvis said. “We can connect our children and our teachers in person.”

Four-day schedule

In a press release later Friday, Gordon said families who select in-person learning for their K-1 students can expect to have students attend full days four days a week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Wednesdays will be dedicated to student independent work “so teachers and staff can maintain continuity between students learning remotely and in those in-person,” she said. K-1 families who do not wish to send their students in-person will have the option to continue with remote learning.

Both Kindergarten and first grade will continue to be taught remotely until Sept. 21, she said. First grade was to begin Tuesday, Sept. 8 and Kindergarten on Sept. 11.

Students in district level special-education programs preschool through age 21 (Developmental preschool, TRAC, Options, ET&T, and CTP) will be invited back, beginning September 21, for full day in-person services on the same four-day schedule, with remote learning on Wednesdays. Preschool will have a half-day schedule Monday through Thursday.

Most districts join

In a joint letter following Dr. Chen’s announcement, the superintendents of 14 Pierce County districts said they are making plans to bring back pupils later in September. None of the districts plan to bring students back before Sept. 22, the superintendents said.

“Once a district decides to bring students back to school, they may need at least two weeks of operational transition time before they reopen their doors at the elementary level,” the superintendents said.

The Peninsula School District was not among the districts participating in the joint letter. However, it was expected to follow the same general plan.

Now in Stage 4

Peninsula schools had planned to begin Sept. 8 in “Stage 3” of a six-stage re-opening plan, and proceed to “Stage 4” when the Pierce County metrics indicated “moderate” risk.

Stage 3 would continue at-home online learning, but allows for small groups of up to five students and two adults to return to classrooms. In a presentation to the school board last week, Superintendent Dr. Art Jarvis said students recalled in that stage would be limited to special-needs students, at-risk high schools students and small groups of kindergartners.

In Stage 4, schools would be allowed to bring back some larger groups — principals are thinking of lab science, music and other classes hard to teach online. In Stage 5, schools could bring back full grade levels, up to 50 percent of a building’s capacity.

Dr. Chen said districts ought to return “slowly and carefully” to in-person learning, beginning with younger students.

“DOH’s decision tree for schools envisions in the moderate category that a return to school begins with elementary students. It suggests that, “over time,” middle and high school students could be added in a hybrid model.”

Chen cited four reasons for starting with younger students.

• Youngest learners are at a critical stage in their development.
• Youngest learners struggle the most with distance learning.
• Elementary students in general remain in one classroom, in contrast with higher grade levels where students move between different classes.
• Younger students appear to have milder disease and transmit COVID-19 less.

PSD has been under intense pressure from parents to resume in-person classes. An “Open Our Schools” rally led by conservative state Rep. Jess Young drew about 100 people on Aug. 11, and school board members have been bombarded with public comments critical of the shutdown.

This story was originally published September 4, 2020 at 6:29 PM.