Starting the 2021-2022 School Year 100% In-Person, Safely

The State Department of Health, Governor Jay Inslee and OSPI have recently come out with revised mandatory guidelines for schools for the 2021-2022 school year. While we are still reviewing and working with the local health department to better understand what’s required, several points are very clear. 

Schools are required to reopen for the 2021-2022 school year with all students in the classroom for face-to-face learning. At this time, the state has indicated that remote learning is not an acceptable substitute for in-person learning. 

We Will be Wearing Masks

However, the new Delta variant is surging and easily transmissible, especially for people who are not vaccinated. So, given that most students are still too young to be immunized, the state has also mandated that everyone who enters a school building -- vaccinated or not -- must mask up with a properly fitting mask. 

We want to emphasize that this is a safety requirement mandated by the state Department of Health, OSPI and the governor: Masking in schools is NOT a local decision. It is out of our hands.   

Students will not be required to wear masks outside of the school at recess or while eating. However, distancing requirements will be in place throughout the school day. In general, three feet is the required distance, with some variations, like when kids are unmasked at lunch. 

What Other Measures Will the School Be Taking?

Lyle School will continue to follow safety protocols, including sanitizing surfaces nightly or when a child or adult has gone home sick; ensuring hand washing and sanitizing; and monitoring for signs of illness.

At this time, we are not required to do the more intensive screening at the start of the school day, but staff will greet students arriving for the day and provide hand sanitizer for their use. They will also be visually scanning kids for signs of illness like runny noses, a cough, flushed faces and so on.

We ask parents, as always, if your child shows any signs of being sick, keep them home. Otherwise, there's a really good chance you'll get a call to come get them right away.  

We Can Do This (Again)!

Lyle School opened in September last year, well ahead of the vast majority of school districts in the Columbia Gorge and across the State of Washington. We operated safely throughout the school year, with no outbreaks, thanks to the cooperation and support of our parents and community.  

With all of us working together, we can do the same again this year.