Not Tekoa, Pullman: In-class okay for all grades

COLFAX–The Whitman County Public Health Department has updates its recommendation for in-person classes. The department announced today it now supports hybrid or in-person learning for all schools and grades within Whitman County expect Pullman and Tekoa. Previously, Public Health had recommend all middle and high school classes be hybrid for county schools. All schools are required to follow State DOH and OSPI guidance, including but not limited to, the use of face coverings and social distancing requirements, stated public health.

As with the original back to school plan, the different schools had been following up on the recommendation in various ways and time frames.

The recommendation did not include Tekoa because two people at the high school have tested positive for COVID-19 recently. Public health deployed the WSU mobile health clinic to the Tekoa City Hall Tuesday to provide testing for anyone who wanted it.

Colfax: Colfax will begin a hybrid model Oct. 5, dividing middle and high school students by last name. Those in the first half of the alphabet will attend school on Monday and Tuesday, followed by online for everyone Wednesday while the school buildings are cleaned. The second half of the alphabet will go in-person Thursday and Friday.

Garfield/Palouse: School officials intend to meet Oct. 5 to discuss the issue. Any decision would be relayed to parents via Blackboard, an online program.

LaCrosse: All grades have already been meeting at LaCrosse school four days a week with Wednesday being an online learning and building cleaning day. According to Superintendent Jordan Jennings, the district is exploring the possibility of going five days a week of in-person learning, but that decision will not be made for at least a few weeks.

St. John/Endicott: Parents were to receive a letter this week from Superintendent Suzanne Schmick about the next step of re-entry. Beginning Oct. 5, all grades will meet in class Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday with Wednesday being online while the building is cleaned. Previously, elementary students have met the four days while the middle and high school have been split into A and B groups with each in-class two days and online two days in addition to Wednesday.

Rosalia: Rosalia is keeping the option of stepping back in mind as it moves forward with middle and high school student returned. The district had previously been allowed to bring back students effect by the Babb/Malden Fire which returned four who had been online before. Superintendent Rick Linehan said there are 23 students who lost homes in the fire. With the school’s online option, they are able to maintain classwork even though they may be out of the area to live at the time.

Rosalia has been bringing students back for five-day-a-week class by grade, beginning with sixth grade Tuesday, Sept. 29. Seventh were added Wednesday and eighth set for Thursday. Monday ninth and 10th are to return and 11th and 12th Tuesday. The classes will continue to follow the online curriculum they have been using; in the event the district has to step back, there will be be a smoother transition in learning. More details are available on the school’s webpage.

Oakesdale and Colton schools are unaffected by the recommendation change as they were already back to full schedule and classes.