In a recent online letter to the school community, Mercer Island School District Superintendent Donna Colosky noted that due to the increased COVID-19 case counts in King County, the first day for kindergarten in-person learning has been moved to Dec. 2. The target dates were initially set for Oct. 19 and then Nov. 4.

“This will allow us to proceed with caution as well as watch for consistency in all of the metrics,” an earlier letter stated.

Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 will be asynchronous learning days for kindergarten prior to the first day of in-person learning.

Colosky noted at a special joint meeting with the Mercer Island School District board of directors and city council on Oct. 22 that the heart of their reopening plan has always focused on beginning with their youngest students and those students who are most impacted with their education. Presently about 41 students with the highest need are studying in the district buildings.

“We are planning for more of these small groups or cohorts of six or fewer students to return in November,” Colosky said in the latest letter, adding that Decision Tree is now allowing for limited, small group (six or fewer) extracurricular and athletic activities, but not competitions.

The toughest part is physical distancing, she said, adding that all students and staff must mask up and stay six feet apart in classrooms — in which 14 to 16 students will be allowed — and on campuses. Outlined in the Decision Tree model, which is available to view on the Washington State Department of Health website, the district monitors COVID-19 activity levels of high, moderate and low.

“Nothing is staying stable in this environment,” said Colosky, adding that she and the district board and staff have constantly pivoted due to the changes set forth by the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Department of Health, the Department of Labor and Industries and the local health authority.

“I completely empathize with all of our families because those adjustments then sometimes extend a timeline out from when we’re able to really plan to bring students back,” she said.

To read the latest letter in full, visit https://tinyurl.com/y6jh7y4z