"The Lake Washington School District (LWSD) Board of Directors welcomes and supports Governor Inslee’s announced proclamation requiring all school districts to begin offering hybrid in-person instruction this spring. We believe that, although remote learning has worked for some, for many students the best model of instruction is in-person, in a classroom with their teacher. This Board also views the Governor’s proclamation as a minimum, not a goal.
Accordingly, it is the Board’s expectation that LWSD will exceed the requirements of the Governor’s proclamation in implementing in-person learning this spring. It is also our expectation that all students who choose to remain in remote instruction will continue to receive high-quality instruction and services. Finally, it is our expectation that, if health and safety guidelines allow, all students in all grades will have the option for full-time in-person instruction next fall. As a Board, we commit to doing everything we can to ensure this happens...."
-- LWSD Board of Directors, release excerpt 3/15/2021
Three foot distancing policies can be adopted in school settings with masking mandates without negatively impacting student or staff safety. Clinical Infectious Diseases, March 10, 2021
A comprehensive, quality website packed with information focused on getting our kids back to school.
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ReplyDeleteFrom LWSD school board member Chris Carson in response to my request for 3 foot distancing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the question. Planning continues to assume 6’ distancing, as specified by the Washington State Department of Health. It would be inappropriate for LWSD to start making our own public health guidelines, like not refrigerating the milk for school lunches, but I believe that a change in the distance guidelines for COVID-19 will be announced by the CDC before too long, in light of this paper published last week:
https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciab230/6167856
I hope that WA DoH will revise the guidelines rapidly, which would let us incorporate 3’ distancing into our plans.
Dr Chris Carlson
Love reading your blogs and commentary. That’s a great question you posed. I wish Mr. Carson didn’t feel the need to always be so snarky in his responses. He needs to just stick to the facts and make simple responses such as “Currently guidelines are for 6”. However we are preparing for 3” in anticipation of CDC guidance change and, hopefully, state health department.”
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ReplyDeleteSaw that. I still want to see it replicated, but I'll take CDC acceptance as peer review. It doesn't have to take months, and for an important safety practice like this it is best to be cautious.
ReplyDeleteDoes the closer distance apply to high school?
Bob Yoder said: "I'm almost sure 3-foot distancing is K-12. The Union has been a significant impediment to getting our kids back to school. They put the brakes on to mitigate COVID but this infection now pales to suicide, depression, anxiety, emotional growth, academics....."
ReplyDeleteBob, I really agree with you on that--thank you!
Good morning Bob,
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear from you. As you mention the CDC guidance has been updated. I have reached out to the Governor’s office and the Department of Health to get a sense for when this guidance will be translated into our Washington State guidance. The metrics that the CDC references are different than what Washington State uses which requires our public health officials to analyze the CDC guidance and adopt language and direction for us locally. At this time, we have not received notice of a modification of the distancing requirement. On Friday, we received notice from the Director of Seattle/King County Public Health notifying districts they were required to follow current guidance as is directed by law.
We anticipate receiving information soon from Department of Health which will provide guidance related to this matter.
Thank you,
Dr. Jon Holmen
Superintendent
Lake Washington School District
jholmen@lwsd.org | 425-936-1257
I'm so frustrated that District action has to be filtered by the State. After all this time they're still stuck on 6 feet? Can't Mr. Inslee learn from other states? How long can the kids wait? We are ruining the future of our children. Suicide, depression, anxiety, anorexia, a dearth of socialization and emotional support, abuse at home. Please Dr. Holmen and Board, nip at the state and county to get the ball rolling ASAP. Thank you.
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