Peninsula Schools Announces K-1 Classes Will Remain In-Person

GIG HARBOR, WA — The Peninsula School District Superintendent has announced that kindergarten students, first graders and high-needs students who are currently taking classes in-person will remain in the classroom on Nov. 2, in a move that apparently surprised the Tacoma - Pierce County Health Department.

The move is a reversal of an announcement made on Oct. 23, when the district said that those same students would return to fully remote learning on Nov. 2.

In his letter issued to parents Wednesday explaining the reversal, Superintendent Art Jarvis cites a pilot COVID-19 rapid testing program as the factor allowing students to remain:

"Here is what I know: along with a coalition of small/rural Pierce County school districts, we have been asked to pilot a COVID-19 rapid testing program in our schools," writes Jarvis. "This testing program is supported by the TPCHD with supplies and instructional materials. By partnering in this pilot, TPCHD is supportive of our continuation of in-person learning while we work out the details of the program."

However, Wednesday night the Tacoma - Pierce County Health Department, or TPCHD, issued a response saying the decision was news to them, and that the testing program in question is far from ready.

Their statement reads in part:

"We are glad Peninsula School District Superintendent Jarvis is exerting his authority to determine a path forward for in-person learning for the district’s K-3 grade students. However, his announcement this afternoon concerning the COVID-19 rapid testing pilot surprised us.

While school districts determine how to implement health department recommendations concerning in person learning, we have not yet finalized plans for this testing pilot."

The health department's statement goes on to explain that they had just received approval to take part in the testing pilot earlier Wednesday, and that many details are still being hammered out.

It is unclear what impact, if any, the health department's statement will have on the school's decision to reopen, but it comes amid a period of rapid changes for the school district. Just last Friday, the district announced that they would end all in-person learning and transition to fully remote learning by Nov. 2, as requested by the health department. The students had only just returned to classrooms starting on September 28.

Under the district's current plan, which appears will now remain in effect indefinitely, around 800 Peninsula Schools students have been allowed to return to classrooms, primarily K-1 students, but also students with special needs who require extra instruction.

As Jarvis explains in the letter:

"While we are exploring this opportunity, we will continue providing our dual in-person/remote learning platform for Kindergarten and 1st grade students as we have been doing since Sept. 28, and will continue moving forward with bringing back 2nd grade students for in-person learning one week later than planned. Second grade children whose parents elected in-person learning will return on Nov. 12. Non-K-1 students including those in special education programs (Developmental Preschool, ECEAP, Options, TRAC, ET&T and CTP) who have been accessing in-person learning will continue receiving services, and some with minor adjustments."

Read the superintendent's full letter to parents, and the response from the Tacoma - Pierce County Health Department.