August 25, first day of school for Dayton and Starbuck students

DAYTON—With less than two weeks before the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, Jan and Sterling Leonard are concerned about sending their two children, Leann, and Christian, back into the classroom, considering the COVID-19 outbreak.

“I constantly question if we are making the right choice to have them return to school,” Leonard said.

“It’s my biggest hope that all school personnel will do whatever they can to take social distancing and mask-wearing seriously, to keep everyone safe.”

Parents will get their first look at the Plan to Reopen Dayton schools at two scheduled Zoom meetings with the District superintendent and county health officials on Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. and on Aug. 17 at 3 p.m. Leonard said she would be attending one of those meetings.

A tremendous effort has been made by the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Washington State Secretary of Health, the County Health Department, and School District officials to emphasize student and staff safety in the schools.

Students are mandated by the state to wear face coverings except when a doctor’s note or an Individual Education Plan (IEP) allows the exception. All staff and students will have their temperature checked every morning. All classrooms are set up to maintain physical distancing protocols.

Dayton School District Superintendent Guy Strot released the Reopening Plan for the Dayton School District, on Thursday of last week.

Strot is happy to report that all students will be able to attend school all five days of the week, but the District is also preparing a distance learning option and is providing special distance learning teachers to work with the 20 students who have elected the distance learning model, for students who are sick at home, and to provide support to teachers.

He said teachers are devoting time this summer to fine-tune distance learning instruction, and during the first week of school, students are going to practice distance learning in an intentional way.

Strot said six positive cases in the county during any two-week period will necessitate closing both Starbuck and Dayton schools.

“It doesn’t take much,” he said.

As an example, ten positive cases in the county over a two-week period of time, spreading and lasting for three weeks, will necessitate closing schools for three weeks.

Based on current numbers of positive cases and COVID-19 tests that are pending in the county, Strot said the District wouldn’t know whether the school can open to in-person instruction until the week before school begins.

Strot said there would be no fall athletic programs, and he will be surprised if winter sports are allowed.

While he is not optimistic about the future of basketball, he is confident about golf, softball, baseball, and track during the spring months. He said football and volleyball could take place in early March after the cold and flu season ends.

A couple of changes are taking place at the elementary, middle, and high schools.

Elementary school students will be released at 2 p.m., and middle school and high school students will be released at 12:30 p.m.

Lunches for Grades K-5 will either be in the classroom or staggered in the cafeteria.

MS/HS students will be provided with a sack lunch. They can take the 12:30 p.m. bus home, or they can stay on campus to eat lunch, read, and do homework until 2 p.m.

Teachers will work all day without breaks and have their planning time at 2 p.m.

Initially, MS/HS students will be on a three or four-period schedule.

Strot is hoping for a return to a more typical school schedule in the second semester, depending on the COVID-19 situation.

The Plan for Reopening Dayton Schools has been emailed to parents. It has been posted on “All Things Dayton,” on the District Facebook page, and the District website.

Starbuck School District Superintendent Kevin Graffis said the health and safety of the students and the staff is vital to reopening school in Starbuck.

Graffis said masks would be required for both students and staff, and social distancing guidelines will be followed. Also, protocols will be in place to handle meals and transportation to meet the state’s requirements.

“However, we must be proactive and prepared during these ever-changing times to continue educating our students, if, and when, circumstances change throughout the year,” he said.

The District is considering three stages for learning models, which will provide the ability to “pivot” between them if the need arises.

For 100 percent In-Person Learning, Stage 1, all students and staff will participate onsite with in-person instruction, five days a week.

For Hybrid Learning, Stage 2, the youngest learners, or students in the greatest need for additional support, can receive staff instruction, onsite, a minimum of two days per week. All other students will participate in distance learning. Staff will be required to be onsite for planning and delivering instruction.

For 100-percent Distance Learning, Stage 1, the school will be closed to access, and all students will participate in online distance learning. Staff will be required to be onsite for planning and delivering instruction.

Graffis said there is more need now than ever before, to rely on a collaborative effort, with families, to develop a quality instructional framework for teaching and learning, which will serve each child, well.

The Starbuck School District serves 38 students in grades K-8.