Central Valley School District sent half of its kindergarten students back to the classroom on Monday. The other will go back today [Tuesday]. Spokane’s kindergartners will make their in-person debut on Wednesday.
Superintendent Ben Small says part of the lesson plan for teachers is teaching students about Covid safety behaviors. He asked parents to reinforce those by helping students to learn to put on and take off their masks.
"Get them used to some of the social distancing measures that we’re going to have to take. It’s not as if we will never be within six feet of one another. We need to maximize the time that we’re within six feet of one another and if we’re closer to that, it should be a short duration," he said.
Spokane’s kindergartners will make their in-person debut on Wednesday.
As for when first and second-graders will join them in school, Spokane Superintendent Adam Swinyard isn’t ready to make predictions.
“Just like any factor of this pandemic, trying to forecast what might happen has been extremely difficult. So we’re going to make the best decision in the moment, based on the guidance of our health officials. That will continue to be our practice and we’ll stay in close communication with them," he said.
West Valley will send children back on Thursday. Cheney will welcome kindergartners back next Monday. Students at all grade levels in a few school districts, including Mead, Deer Park and Riverside, have already been attending class in person.
The Coeur d’Alene District on Monday moved from the moderate to minimal risk level, meaning in-person instruction with masks and physical distancing required for students and staff.