The Kent School District closed one classroom Jan. 21 at Springbrook Elementary School due to COVID-19. The classroom is scheduled to return to in-person learning on Jan. 31. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District

The Kent School District closed one classroom Jan. 21 at Springbrook Elementary School due to COVID-19. The classroom is scheduled to return to in-person learning on Jan. 31. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District

Kent had individual classrooms closed at 10 schools last week

COVID-19 cases spread; several of the elementary schools have reopened after week-long closure

Individual classrooms at 10 elementary schools in the Kent School District were closed by the end of last week due to COVID-19.

Classrooms at several of the schools reopened Jan. 24 while others won’t reopen until Jan. 31, depending on when the closure occurred, according to the district’s COVID-19 dashboard.

It is by far the most closed classrooms during one week in the district during the 2021-2022 school year.

In addition to the individual classrooms at the 10 schools, the district entirely closed Pine Tree Elementary last week due to multiple COVID-19 cases. It was the first, and so far only school, to be completely closed due to the pandemic this school year.

A few schools had as many as two or three classrooms closed as the omicron variant spreads through King County, the state and the nation.

The elementary schools with closed classrooms included Cedar Valley, Daniel, Fairwood, Horizon, Meridian, Panther Lake, Ridgewood, Springbrook, Sawyer Woods and Soos Creek.

There are 42 schools in the district, including 29 elementary schools.

Students switched to remote learning during the closures. Each school contacted all impacted families of the closed classrooms, according to the district.

District officials provide no specific details about the grade of the classroom closed or the number of positive cases to protect student privacy.

The district announced earlier in January its plan to keep in-person learning going at schools as long as it has staff and not too many COVID-19 cases.

The district considers the following policy for closure of a classroom after consultation with Public Health – Seattle & King County:

• Three or more students or staff in the same room/area test positive for COVID-19

• The cases have symptoms that start within 14 days of each other

• The cases are not associated with one another in another setting (household, club, etc.)

If a full class needs to quarantine or a school is directed to temporarily close in response to COVID-19 transmission, then:

• Staff and families will be notified by phone, letter, and/or email of the classroom closure

• Students will shift to the 100% remote model used during the 2020-21 school year

• Schedules will mirror current 2021-22 in-person schedules

• Teachers will have two days to transition to synchronous remote learning, and learning will begin online fully by the third day for impacted classrooms

• Classroom closures will typically last 5-10 days


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Kent police investigate fatal two-vehicle collision

The collision killed a woman and left a 45-year-old Tacoma driver, suspected of intoxication at the time of the crash, hospitalized.

Competing for the 8th Congressional District: Carmen Goers, left, and Kim Schrier. COURTESY PHOTOS
Adam Smith and Kim Schrier will retain Congress seats | Election 2024

Smith represents the 9th Congressional District and Schrier represents the 8th Congressional District.

Courtesy of Democratic Caucus
Pictured left to right: Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D), Rep. David Hackney, and Rep. Steve Bergquist
Democratic incumbents in lead for 11th Legislative District

Bob Hasegawa, David Hackney and Steve Bergquist have strong leads, with Hasegawa and Hackney running unopposed.

Debra Entenman and Kyle Lyebyedyev. File photos
Entenman and Stearns lead in 47th District | Election 2024

The district includes Kent, Covington and Auburn.

File photo
Kent School District levy is failing at the polls | Election 2024

Early election results show voters rejecting the proposed Capital Projects and Technology Levy.

Larry Best, a customer coordinator for quality assurance who has worked at Boeing for 38 years, stands outside of Angel of the Winds Arena with a “vote no” sign on Monday in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Boeing Machinists approve contract, ending 52-day strike

After voting no twice, 59% of union members approved the latest contract.

Photos from the United States Attorney's Office Western District of Washington press release.
Kent man arrested in connection to violent drug trafficking gang investigation

Law enforcement seized more than 20 kilograms of fentanyl, 60 firearms, and more than $130,000 in cash.

Courtesy Photo, King County
Son accused of fatally shooting mother’s boyfriend in Kent back in jail

Dondre Butler has 3 violations in 13 months of electronic home detention after charged with murder in 2022

t
Kent Police targeted street patrols result in arrest of two felons

One driver spotted in a vehicle with no plates; another driver reportedly in a stolen vehicle

t
Kent cold case murder suspect back in state after governor’s warrant | Update

Kenneth Kundert fought extradition from Arkansas after August arrest in 1980 killing of Dorothy Silzel

t
City of Kent eyes November opening for Reith Road roundabouts

Two more roundabouts will bring total in city to six; three more in future plans