Tri-Cities schools ’closest to normal’ since COVID. Find out what’s new when classes open

In a few days, many Tri-City students already will be back in the classroom for their first day of school.

For students entering the 2022-23 school year, this will be their fourth school year with the COVID-19 pandemic — and it will also mark the largest return to normalcy for many.

“We’re just excited to have kids back in school,” said Ty Beaver, director of communications at Richland School District. “This is definitely the first school year we’ve had since COVID that is as closest to normal.”

Some precautions still remain, though, despite mask and social distancing mandates being lifted.

Richland, Kennewick and Pasco will continue tracking coronavirus cases, and that data will still be available through their online dashboards.

Two new elementary schools are opening in Richland for the first time this year: Badger Mountain and Desert Sky, which will serve close to 1,000 students.

And work to replace Ridge View Elementary in Kennewick began over the summer.

Schools also are focusing more on 1-to-1 instruction this year in an effort to combat both summer learning loss and instruction lost during the pandemic. Student mental health and well being also continues to take top priority for school leaders.

Hiring issues

Though teacher shortages haven’t hit the Tri-Cities this school year, local school districts are still hiring for positions that provide crucial services to students. All are looking for bus drivers, substitute teachers and para educators.

At Pasco, a lack of substitutes means more regular teachers will have to jump between rooms. They’re also looking for custodial staff, secretaries and nutritional services.

“All these folks can be just as impactful for our students as any other staff can be,” Beaver said. “They can build those relationships, too.”

Richland also has several open para educator, nutritional and substitute teaching positions.

Kennewick has several para educator, teaching, custodial and substitute positions open.

COVID-19 guidelines

Students and staff can still wear a mask if they choose.

Vaccine mandates remain in place for public school employees, volunteers and contractors.

A student or staff member must stay home if they test positive for COVID or are symptomatic, according to guidelines released recently for this school year.

The person can return to school after five full days of isolation if they are asymptomatic, if symptoms have improved and they have had no fever for the past 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Schools also still required to report new COVID cases and outbreaks to their local health department.

Students are not required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

For those wanting to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 before the school year begins, children ages 6 months and older can now be vaccinated, and those 5 years and older can receive booster doses.

More information can be found in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s back-to-school guide.

Students are still required to be vaccinated against chicken pox, mumps, diphtheria, German measles, measles, polio, pneumococcal disease, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b disease.

Bus schedules

Bus schedules are already posted online at Kennewick, and Pasco and Richland expect to have theirs out soon.

Pasco’s routes will be “posted the week before school starts,” according to the district’s transportation page.

Richland will make their routes available “as close to the first day as possible,” Beaver said, though parents should have already been sent information on their general pickup times.

Mental health help and tutoring

Pasco schools over the summer offered 1-to-1 tutoring to students for free through TutorMe Education. That program will continue this school year, said Anna Tensmeyer, the district’s public affairs director.

“The impacts of COVID on PSD students was similar to what has been documented nationwide,” Tensmeyer wrote in an email.

“For this reason, our focus has been on supporting student learning through an accelerated approach. With additional opportunities for learning through summer programs, tutoring, and the implementation of high-yield instructional strategies, our intent is to focus on increased academic gains,” she continued.

The district also will relaunch free virtual licensed mental health therapy through Hazel Health.

Beaver said Richland will be rolling out mental health services over the coming weeks, including more information and training for the district’s popular “Asking is Caring” program.

Students and families seeking basic needs, life services and physical and mental health services can find help through the Communities In Schools of Benton-Franklin program, which serves many local schools.