Tacoma schools are closed for a month starting Monday. Here’s what to expect so far
All K-12 public and private schools in the state, including in Pierce County, will close for more than a month to help slow the progression of COVID-19 coronavirus in the region, Gov. Jay Inslee announced in a press conference Friday.
The closure will last for six weeks and requires schools to close Monday, March 16 through Friday, April 24.
The executive order will affect more than 136,000 public school students in Pierce County.
Tacoma Public Schools serves more than 30,000 students across 50 schools and employs roughly 5,000 people.
What will the closure mean for in Tacoma? Here’s what comes next.
Schools were open Friday
Friday, March 13, was a half day at TPS. Schools remained open to allow a transition day for staff and families to adjust to the closure. Mary Lyon, Lowell and Sheridan elementary schools were closed Friday.
Parents, students and families were encouraged use Friday to take home medications and essential personal items that may be at school.
TPS schools will officially close Monday, March 16. Access to school will be limited to administrators, maintenance staff and other essential personnel.
The district will provide learning support materials and online learning resources to use at home.
“These are not meant to be a substitute for classroom instruction but will help students practice their skills and learn independently during the closure,” the district said.
When asked if staff will still be able to come to work or get paid, TPS spokesperson Dan Voelpel said the district is seeking clarification on the specifics from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Tacoma Education Association president Angel Morton said Thursday that the union will meet with the district on Monday. TEA is working with the district to ensure members will be paid and minimize the economic impact on staff.
“We feel this is the right call to minimize people’s exposure,” Morton said. “We’re certainly disappointed in the missed learning opportunity, but we very much appreciate the governor and school district taking steps to keeping our population healthy.”
Free meals
Tacoma Public Schools’ Nutrition Services Department will be providing free meals to all students affected by emergency school closures at 10 middle school locations:
- Baker — 8001 S. J St.
- First Creek — 1801 E. 56th St.
Giaudrone — 4902 S. Alaska St.
Gray —6229 S. Tyler St.
Jason Lee — 602 N. Sprague Ave.
Mason — 3901 N. 28th St.
Meeker — 4402 Nassau Ave. NE
Stewart — 5010 Pacific Ave.
Truman — 5801 N. 35th St.
Wainwright Intermediate — 130 Alameda Ave., Fircrest
Meals will be served between 10 a.m. and noon. Each student will receive two meals: lunch for the day and breakfast for the following morning.
Families are asked to enter through the school’s bus loading zone and will be served drive-thru style. Walk-ups are welcome.
The process has been approved by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and prevents people from congregating in one area. The process is in place at schools already affected by the closures: Lyon, Lowell and Sheridan.
In Tacoma, more than half of the district’s 30,000 students qualify for free or reduced lunch, while more than 1,400 are considered homeless under the federal McKinney Vento definition, The News Tribune’s Matt Driscoll reported.
Child care
Tacoma Public Schools is working on a child care plan, but it isn’t clear yet, spokesperson Dan Voelpel said.
It’s possible schools could serve as child care facilities for families of first-responders and health care workers.
“We have put out a request for community partners to come together to see what they can provide in our schools. Everyone is putting their thinking caps on to figure out how to deliver on the governor’s order,” Voelpel said.
A more detailed plan will be sent to families within the next few days.
Lost instructional time
TPS ensures that seniors who are expected to graduate this year will be able to complete graduation requirements.
What that looks like isn’t yet clear.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal said at a press conference Thursday that there will be “work to do” for seniors to get the credits they need.
For now, he encourages districts to treat next week as “spring break.”
“The public should not expect we have these services fully stood up immediately,” Reykdal said. “Districts need time.”
TPS officials recognize that the closures will create a hardship for many families.
“The school day is the centerpiece of the lives of many people. Children count on the reliable routine that a school day offers, from the classroom setting to the many people at school who know them, care for them and provide recognition of them five days a week,” the district said in a statement.
The number of COVID-19 cases in Pierce County jumped to 19 on Friday as the disease continued to spread across Washington state.
The state Department of Health on Friday reported 568 cases with 37 deaths statewide.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 4:05 PM.
