School Operations Update 5.28.21

 Lewis County Metrics

Cases continue to increase in Lewis County even as cases in the State as a whole continue to decline. At 374 cases per 100,000 residents, Lewis County is the fifth highest case rate in the State. 

Lewis County

Washington State

Since May 6, TSD has recorded 15 COVID positive cases and 50 close contacts. We anticipate an increase in cases in the next week owing to an increase in extra curricular activities both sponsored and not sponsored by the District. 

I've been asked about Commencement. We plan to hold an outdoor Commencement ceremony on June 11 for Cowlitz Prairie Academy and June 12 for THS. All those who are not quarantined and who have tickets to attend will be welcome to participate. It is our hope that all members of the Class of 2021 will be symptom free and not close contacts with someone who tests positive. We will hold this ceremony even if only one student is not in quarantine. We encourage all those who wish to participate to stay distant from others and mask or get vaccinated.

Regular Order

The board has authorized us to continue providing in-person instruction for the remainder of the school year unless specifically directed by the Governor to close or our cases breach one of the thresholds for closure identified by Lewis County Public Health. Those thresholds are:

Classroom Closure Trigger:  ·         Two or more COVID-19 cases among students or staff within a 14-day period, who are epidemiologically linked, do not share a household and did not have significant contact outside of school grounds

School Closure Triggers: ·         Schools with fewer than 10 classrooms:  if 2 or more classrooms are closed ·         Larger schools:  if more than 10% of classrooms are closed ·         If there is a rapid increase in cases ·         If there are 2 or more generations of transmission ·         If there is not enough staff for school to function

While we have had a "rapid increase in cases", it has not been significant enough to impact safety for students and staff and has not impacted our ability to continue to provide in-person instruction. 

The best way to deliver instruction is in-person. Our goal is to continue to do so as long as we possibly can.

Masks

The CDC has indicated that fully-vaccinated individuals,

"...(may) resume activities without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance."

The Governor's proclamation and regulations from Washington Department of Labor and Industries require us to continue to wear masks. We don't know what will happen between now and August 31, but be assured that there isn't a single person in the school district that is pushing to continue masking beyond when the regulations require it. Like in-person instruction, we believe that it is best for students and staff when we can interact without face coverings. 

Fall School Operation Hours

Beginning in August, schools will observe the following regular operation hours:

TES: 8-2:30

TMS: 9:10-3:40

THS: 9-3:30

Notice that TMS will begin after THS. Students will be dropped off at THS before students at TMS. This is to reduce the impact of a two-tiered approach to operating schools. Students at THS miss out on many opportunities when school dismisses later. We have worked hard to find a way to get students at THS out by 3:30 while not requiring TES students to start their day too early.

A two-tiered operating system is needed because of a chronic shortage of school bus drivers. In order to return to a uniform start time of 8:25 at all schools, we would need 4 additional route and 3 additional substitute drivers. 

In 2005, TSD had 970 students and 400 bus riders on 8 routes. In 2021, we have 775 students and 600 riders on 6 routes. Fewer students generating more ridership served by fewer routes. Our busses do not have the capacity to transport 100 students and we don't have the capacity to increase the number of routes, so we adopted a two-tiered system to meet the needs of the community with the resources available.

We would prefer to return to a single tier system, but until we have more drivers, we will be unable to.