HSD continues to fine-tune its reopening plan
By Terry Murry on Thursday, January 28th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – The Hermiston School District is banking on a drop in COVID-19 cases in the 97838 ZIP code and has plans to return kindergarten and first grade students to their classrooms in a hybrid schedule on Feb. 16. Also on that day, elementary schools will adjust their schedules to offer comprehensive distance learning in the afternoon.
“The district is moving methodically into hybrid learning,” Superintendent Tricia Mooney said. “As we move further into hybrid and Hermiston case counts reach lower thresholds, we will return additional students to the classroom.”
In order to begin hybrid learning, the district must have less than 88 cases over the 14-day reporting period. The two-week count that began on Jan. 10 showed 500 cases per 100,000 residents. Mooney said it’s important to have plans ready as case counts continue to decline.
“Though the transition won’t be overnight, once metrics are met, the district will be able to promptly roll out hybrid learning for kinder and first grade,” she said.
The school district posts regular updates on the COVID-19 date on its website at https://www.hermiston.k12.or.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=2086766&type=d&pREC_ID=2135428.
