Evergreen schools won’t move to 4 days of in-person learning

Despite the option to bring in students for more in-class instruction, Clark County’s largest school district has decided to stick with its twice-a-week hybrid instruction and full remote-learning options for the rest of the 2020-21 school year.

In memos sent to district staff and families Wednesday morning, Evergreen Public Schools superintendent Mike Merlino outlined how revised state guidance would pose several challenges for the district and its schools in advancing to four-day-a-week, in-person instruction.

Last month, Gov. Jay Inslee gave Washington K-12 schools the option to reduce the physical distance between students in classrooms to 3 feet, down from the previous 6 feet of spacing, as a COVID-19 safety measure. 

“These revised rules are challenging to implement in our 38 school buildings for the remainder of this school year without significant, and potentially disruptive, changes to school schedules and school operations,” Merlino said. 

However, Merlino added plans are underway to ensure students return to full-time, five-day-a-week instruction this fall under recommended state guidance. 

He added additional support will be made available to students who need additional personal and academic support in the final weeks of the school year. That includes additional or full-time in-person instruction for students deemed at-risk by school leaders. Parents also may request their student be considered for additional or full-time in-person learning.