Issaquah School District E-news
February 3, 2021
Teachers Union Votes To Approve Agreement To Return K-3 Students To In-Person Learning
Dear ISD Community –
We are happy to share that the tentative agreement to bring our kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade and 3rd grade learners back to our schools for in-person hybrid learning has been ratified by a vote of the Issaquah Education Association (IEA) members, our teachers’ union.
When do students begin in-person hybrid learning?
In accordance with the K-3 ISD/IEA agreement, we will be monitoring the agreed upon COVID-19 metrics for the next five days, with an anticipated K/1 in-person hybrid start date of Thursday, February 11th. If that date changes, we will communicate with you in a timely manner. Following the return of K-1, 2nd and 3rd grade learners will return 21 days later, as long as virus transmission within our school environment is limited. With this agreement complete, we will now turn discussions to phase in additional groups of students.
What are the required COVID-19 metrics?
IEA and the District have agreed to monitor four metrics to determine when a return to in-person learning is feasible. These criteria are based on the Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH) Decision Framework.
Under the agreement, in-person learning can happen when the following are true for King County:
- COVID-19 case numbers are at or below 350 cases per 100,000 population
- Case trends are flat or decreasing as compared to the 14 days prior
- Hospitalization trends are flat or decreasing
- The test positivity rate is 10 percent or less
What COVID safety protocols does the district have in place?
The District will continue to follow public health and safety requirements, provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to staff, and ensure all staff have successfully completed safety trainings. As a friendly reminder, here are the COVID safety protocols for those students who are beginning in-person hybrid learning:
All students will be required to wear a face covering in order to attend school.
- If you believe your student needs an accommodation if they are unable to wear a face covering (through 504 or IEP process) please contact your student’s school at least three days prior to in-person learning beginning.
- Please note that each school will also have a process to follow if students refuse to wear their face covering. Students will not be allowed in classrooms if they refuse to wear a face covering.
Parents/guardians must complete a daily attestation for their student prior to arriving at the school site in order for their child to enter the school building. Students will not be allowed into the building without a completed attestation.
- Beginning February 11, an email will be automatically sent to the contact designated as parent 1 in Skyward (for students with more than one family of record the message will only go to parent 1 of the family listed as family 1). The email will contain a link to a form that asks whether students are experiencing COVID symptoms or have had exposure to COVID. Based on these responses, the form will indicate whether the student is cleared to attend school in-person that day.
- After you receive your initial email, you may sign-up to also receive the daily attestation form by text message if you prefer.
No visitors and/or volunteers will be allowed on campus.
- Please schedule an appointment by contacting the school office if you need to drop off or pick-up materials for your student.
For our K-3 families beginning in-person hybrid visit: In-Person Learning – What To Expect