SE Washington News

The Willapa Valley School District students began returning to class on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Returning to class was approved after Pacific County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Steven Krager said districts could begin in-person learning for elementary-aged children in a phased approach. Krager released the findings in a recent letter.

“With the encouraging overall change in rates of community transmission [of COVID-19] since late July, Pacific County Public Health supports schools in planning to operate within DOH guidelines,” Krager stated in the letter.

Willapa Valley Superintendent Nancy Morris commented on the action in a recent press release.

“Reopening schools is not a simple task,” Morris told Chinook Observer. “This rolling start allows the transportation staff and the food service staff to transition in an orderly fashion. We are so happy to see this new plan become possible, and we hope that a continued downward trend in the county infection metrics will eventually allow our upper-level students to begin to return to school, as well.”