Fall 2020 School Reopening Plans
School starts September 9 in full-time distance learning model
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services announced on July 30, 2020 that based on current levels of COVID-19 in our community, it does not recommend school districts open for in-person learning this September. As a result, we will begin school on September 9 in a full-time distance learning model.
Fall 2020 School Reopening Plan
Frequently Asked Questions
In July our district held virtual Town Halls to hear feedback from students, staff, families and the community on initial committee recommendations for how learning might look this fall. Questions raised during those Town Halls are being added regularly to a Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Virtual Community Town Hall Recordings
Workgroups
Eight workgroups made up of staff, students, families and community members have been formed to address specific areas related to plans to reopen schools this fall. The groups include:
- Instructional Workgroups: Elementary School, Middle School and High School
- Health Advisory Workgroup
- Family Resources and Supports Workgroup
- Facility Preparations Workgroup
- Social-Emotional Learning Workgroup
- Activities/Athletics Workgroup
Learn more about the workgroups, including membership rosters, meeting agendas and meeting summaries
Academic and Operational Fall Contingency Planning Committees
At the outset of the planning for reopening schools, the district formed two planning teams to begin mapping out needs for various scenarios this fall. One of the groups addressed academic needs, and the other reviewed how we could safely operate school inside our physical buildings. As always, we will continue to follow guidance from the governor, health departments and education officials. To learn more about the committee work, including a roster of the membership, meeting agendas/minutes, and documents shared, visit the committee webpages:
State Guidance Released on June 12
On June 12, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal released state guidance for restarting school in September 2020.
The 55-page “Reopening Washington Schools 2020 District Planning Guide” calls for districts to open schools this fall in a way that protects student and staff health and safety. School districts unable to meet in-person physical distancing requirements due to lack of space in their buildings may choose from other learning options, including split or rotating schedules with continuous remote learning, a phased-in opening with continuous remote learning, and Continuous Learning 2.0 (remote learning).
The Olympia School District refers to this state guidance as it continues its planning work around restarting school this fall
Resources
- COVID-19 Risk Assessment Dashboard - Washington State Department of Health. Data source to identify COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population over 14 days. Used as the basis for state's decision tree for determining provision of in-person learning.
- COVID-19 Data Dashboard - Washington State Department of Health. Several key indicators searchable by county.
- Decision Tree for Provision of In-Person Learning among Public and Private K-12 Students during COVID-19 - Washington State Department of Health (updated August 5, 2020)
- Gov. Jay Inslee announces education recommendations for 2020-21 school year (August 5, 2020)
- K-12 Schools - Fall 2020-21 Guidance (Washington State Department of Health, updated August 4, 2020)
- Follow-up letter on fall 2020 school reopening from Thurston County Public Health and Social Services from Health Officer Dr. Dimyana Abdelmalek (July 31, 2020)
- Thurston County Public Health and Social Services letter to Thurston County school superintendents (July 30, 2020)
- "Partnership with public health is key to reopening schools in fall" (joint press release from Thurston County Superintendents and Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department July 24, 2020)
- Safe Start Washington Phased Reopening County-by-County (Office of the Governor, July 24, 2020)
- Washington State Department of Health Podcast on COVID-19 and Re-Opening Schools
- Washington Schools 2020 Reopening Plan Template (OSPI)
- Fall 2020 School Reopening Family Feedback Survey Results (July 2, 2020)
- Fall 2020 School Reopening Family Feedback Survey (Extended Answer Results)
- "Thurston Schools Working on Details so Students Can Safely Return to Class in the Fall" (Op-Ed by Thurston County Superintendents, including OSD Superintendent Patrick Murphy; published in The Olympian, June 28, 2020)
- OSD Board of Directors Fall Planning Feedback (June 15, 2020 Board Work Session)
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Best Practices for Reopening WA Schools Presentation to Taskforce (June 2, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
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OSD Distance Learning Community Survey Results