In a broad stroke to further prevent
the spread of COVID-19, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee ordered Thursday
all public and private K-12 schools in King, Pierce and Snohomish
counties close beginning next week. Friday, he amended his emergency proclamation to include all Washington schools.
Inslee's mandate states schools must
close by the end of the school day Monday, March 16, and remain
closed through April 24. The soonest schools can resume, if
permitted, is Monday, April 27. Seattle Public Schools had already
announced Wednesday it was closing schools beginning Thursday for at least two weeks, but Inslee's directive expands upon that.
At press conference Thursday, Inslee
said the state has been “taking bold and aggressive actions”
against COVID-19, but to further mitigate the impact even further,
schools must close.
“We have reached a tipping point,
where the spread of this virus demands we take action,” he said.
He said the number of COVID-19 cases
has significantly increased in the past week, and the threat of it
spreading further won't stop until more serious measures are taken.
To that end, health professionals told Inslee closing schools would
greatly assist in slowing the spread of the infection.
Inslee said because school districts
provide essential services to families, such as meal programs and
childcare, superintendents were asked to formulate plans for these
services to continue. Specifically, Inslee asked superintendents to
offer free childcare to parents who work in the medical field or are
first responders.
“We absolutely cannot afford a
shortage of healthcare workers because of no childcare,” he said.
State Superintendent of Public
Instruction Chris Reykdahl said the state will still send money to
school districts so they can provide those services. Reykdahl said
because families may be negatively impacted by COVID-19, meals will
be available to any child in need, not just those who qualify for
free and reduced lunch.
Both Inslee and Reykdahl stressed how
difficult this directive will be for families and students.
Reykdahl said, just in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, 43 school districts and
approximately 650,000 students will be impacted by the closure. He
said, when school resumes, it is likely school years will be extended
into middle or later June to recoup some time lost, but it is
impossible for schools to make up for all the days lost.
“We will lose some instructional time
in these three counties at a minimum,” Reykdahl said.
Inslee said in his press conference Thursday, school districts are being
asked to offer distance learning opportunities if they can, but given
the disparate economic conditions in school districts and among
families, the state cannot expect this to happen.
“I think it’s really important not
to sugar coat the situation that we’re in on either side of the
reality scale,” he said. “It is our job to slow down the
epidemic. We believe that we can do it.”
SPS Superintendent Denise Juneau said
in a news release Thursday afternoon that, while Inslee's directive
poses a challenge, the district will comply.
“Our staff has been in deep planning
and ongoing discussions every day as the coronavirus crisis has
evolved, so we've already got a solid plan in place,” Juneau said
in the press release. “We're fully prepared to fold in the
governor's directive and move forward.”
Friday morning, Seattle Public Schools announced school student lunch sites, which will be available to all SPS students beginning Monday. The school lunch sites will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Because of social distancing guidelines, all meals must be picked up and consumed elsewhere. Large gatherings will not be permitted on site.