Kent schools off to smooth start so far during pandemic

So far, so good when it comes to COVID-19 cases and the opening of schools in the Kent School District.

Students in grades 1-12 returned Aug. 26 to in-person learning while kindergarten classes began Tuesday, Aug. 31.

“We continue to report classroom and school closures if they occur due to COVID on our website, as we did during the summer learning programs,” district spokesperson Melissa Laramie said in an Aug. 31 email. “While COVID-19 activity continues to increase in our community, we do not have any classroom or school closures to report at this time.”

The district tracks and posts COVID-19 case updates for schools on its website at kent.k12.wa.us. At this time, individual case counts for students and staff by school are not being posted only classroom and school level closures. In case of a potential exposure families will be contacted.

The COVID-19 status for schools are open; classroom(s) closed (open schools with at least one classroom closed); and temporarily closed.

“We are excited for the 2021-2022 school year,” Laramie said. “Students are doing a fantastic job following the COVID safety mitigation strategies we have in place.”

The strategies include everyone wearing face coverings and social distancing.

Here is the district’s plan for COVID-19 closures, when a classroom will close and switch to remote learning for 10 days:

■ Two or more students or staff in the same room/area test positive for COVID-19

■ The cases have symptoms that start within 14 days of each other

■ A student or staff member has been in close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more) with a person who has confirmed a positive test result

■ The cases are not associated with one another in another setting (household, club, etc.)

A COVID-19 outbreak in a school is considered when the following have been met:

■ There are two or more COVID-19 cases among students or staff

■ The cases have a symptom onset or positive test result within a 14-day period of each other

■ The cases are epidemiologically linked

■ The cases do not share a household

■ The cases are not identified as close contacts of each other in another setting during the investigation

Reporting a positive COVID case

■ Families must report a positive case in their household to their teacher, principal or school nurse

■ School nurses/contact tracer will follow up with the student/family for symptoms and contact information

■ The school will contact a student or staff member who has been exposed

Covid case notifications

■ Families will be notified by phone, letter, and/or email if there is a positive case in your classroom

■ You will be notified by phone call if your student needs to quarantine

Kindergarteners on their first day of school Aug. 31 at Pine Tree Elementary, 27825 118th Ave. SE. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District

Kindergarteners on their first day of school Aug. 31 at Pine Tree Elementary, 27825 118th Ave. SE. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District