Bellevue School District To Close Due To Coronavirus

BELLEVUE, WA — Bellevue School District will close all schools starting Friday through at least March 27, in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, the district said Wednesday.

The announcement came hours after Gov. Jay Inslee announced a ban on group gatherings of more than 250 people as well as mandatory social distancing policies for all groups. Seattle Public Schools and the Lake Washington School District also said Wednesday they would close for at least two weeks.

"We have been following guidance from Public Health – Seattle & King County to stay open as long as possible," the district said in a statement. "In light of current information shared today by our elected officials, we believe it is time to plan for alternative ways to serve our community and families."

The district will consider extending the closures past March 27, the announcement said.

There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the Bellevue School District, the statement said, but staff shortages have impaired the district's functioning.

Many district staff also fall into high-risk categories, and some have had trouble caring for their own families while serving the district's students, according to the statement.

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The district will have a regular school day on Thursday, allowing students to collect their belongings. Starting Friday, schools will be closed to students, although staff will keep working and district offices will stay open, the district said.

"During this time, students will have limited instructional opportunities," the district said. "These instructional opportunities will be optional, not graded, and will not be meant as a substitute for learning that is currently going on in our classrooms."

The district also plans to offer technology including wi-fi hot spots to families, as well as meals to students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches and childcare for families who need to work during the closure.

At a press conference Wednesday morning, Gov. Inslee announced the state will ban public gatherings of more than 250 people through at least the end of March. Smaller gatherings will also be banned in King County if organizers cannot comply with social distancing orders, County Executive Dow Constantine said.

Meanwhile, King County confirmed 44 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, including four new deaths: three patients at Life Care Center in Kirkland and another from a Redmond nursing home.

The county now has 234 confirmed cases and 26 deaths, with at least 366 cases statewide.

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