Governor Inslee has issued the expectation that public schools will provide childcare for school-age children of healthcare workers and first responders. This is to prevent a shortage of healthcare workers during this public health crisis.

The number of children in each site will be far lower than in school, allowing greater opportunity for social distancing. School districts are required to provide childcare for healthcare workers and first responders because public health officials have determined this is a reasonable and necessary measure to ensure adequate numbers of professionals to care for people who become sick with COVID-19.

Paraeducators, Nutrition Services, Facilities and Safety & Security staff have been asked to volunteer to staff childcare sites. To date, nearly 100 staff members have volunteered. We have sufficient volunteers to staff the two sites that will open Wednesday, March 25. If we should need more volunteers at some point, we will ask for volunteers from a broader pool of employees.

Employees who are identified members of the “at higher risk” group will not be expected to staff any childcare site in any role. This was communicated in a memo to all staff on March 18.

During this unprecedented situation when staff are working while schools are closed, all employees are being asked to take on duties they would not typically do. We are doing our best to align work expectations as closely as possible with employees’ regular job duties. 

Childcare aligns most closely with the responsibilities of a classroom paraeducator. We value our paraeducators and appreciate all who have volunteered to serve in this capacity. We are taking all recommended steps to protect their health and safety.

• Student registration includes general screening and information for parents about coronavirus symptoms.
• Students and staff will be screened daily by a Health Services staff member before admission to the childcare site (details below.)

• We will follow the Washington State Department of Health guidance for childcare at a minimum or more stringent measures in some areas.
• A Health Services staff member will screen all staff and children before admission to the childcare site. This will include:
  • Taking each person’s temperature
  • Checking for symptoms 
  • Asking if medications were used to lower the child’s temperature
  • Asking if there are any household members with COVID-19. 
• Each site will serve no more than 40 children.
• Group size will be limited to no more than nine students and one adult.
• Frequent handwashing will be practiced and integrated into activities.
• Programming is designed to minimize student group mingling, and social distancing will be promoted.
• When necessary for groups to share large spaces (i.e., cafeteria or playground) groups will be kept separate. 
• Meals and snacks will be provided in the classroom whenever possible.

We will follow the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) guidance for childcare regarding PPE. Childcare will not be continued if we cannot obtain the PPE deemed necessary by our director of health.

Nurses will have masks, gloves, and gowns while screening students before entering the childcare site. Staff will have a mask, gloves, eyewear and gown to use if any student presents symptoms and needs to be isolated while waiting to be picked up. DOH is not recommending PPE for staff supervising children.

We will follow sanitation procedures outlined in the Washington State Department of Health guidance for childcare. Custodians will circulate through childcare sites sanitizing high touch surfaces multiple times a day and will follow sanitizing and disinfecting procedures nightly.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus strain that has only spread in people since December 2019. Health experts are concerned because little is known about this new virus and it has the potential to cause severe illness and pneumonia in some people.

Guidelines from Public Health.

People who have been diagnosed with novel coronavirus have reported symptoms that may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus:

• Fever
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing

Guidelines from Public Health.

You generally need to be in close contact with someone with COVID-19 to get infected. Close contact includes scenarios like living with or caring for a person with confirmed COVID-19, being within six feet of a person with confirmed COVID-19 for about 10 minutes, or if someone with COVID-19 coughed on you, kissed you, shared utensils with you or you had direct contact with their body secretions.

Guidelines from Public Health.

It is natural to be concerned about a new illness. Remember that according to our state and local health departments, the risk to the Highline community and to the U.S. population as a whole is currently low. If you would like to talk with someone, the following mental health services are available to students and staff: 

• Students can talk with their school counselor or school nurse. 
• Families and parents can call the Washington State Department of Health’s Coronavirus hotline at 1-800-525-0127.

Staff can access First Choice Employee Assistance Program (EAP), a free, confidential program available to all HPS employees. Access the EAP 24 hours a day, seven days a week by phone at 800-777-4114 or online.

As adults, it’s important we remain calm with our actions and words, and share factual information. Sharing accurate information during a time of heightened concern is critical. One of the ways we can protect our community from illness is to keep rumors and misinformation from spreading.

Here are some resources you may use to talk about the coronavirus with students: 

• Video: Coronavirus Explained for Kids
• Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus
• Talking to Teens and Tweens About Coronavirus

We recognize that students may be curious, confused or anxious about coronavirus. Our social work staff has developed some tips for talking with children about this outbreak.  

Where can I find more information about the coronavirus?
Stay up to date by consulting the following webpages:

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Washington Department of Health (DOH), Coronavirus School Resources and Recommendations
• Public Health – Seattle and King County (PHSKC), Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

This is an evolving situation. Stay up to date by consulting the following webpages:

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Washington Department of Health (DOH), Coronavirus School Resources and Recommendations
• Public Health – Seattle and King County (PHSKC), Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Students and staff can reduce their risk for getting and spreading viral respiratory infections, including the flu and the common cold, by taking simple steps which will also prevent coronavirus, these include:

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a sleeve or a tissue.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use alcohol hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Public Health has specific advice for people who have been confirmed with COVID-19, have been around someone with COVID-19, or are feeling unwell but haven’t been in close contact with someone with COVID-19. Read Public Health guidance.

Public Health does not currently recommend that people wear masks when they are in public. Scientists are not sure whether wearing a mask in public actually keeps healthy people from getting sick. However, people who are sick should wear a mask in a healthcare setting (such as a waiting room) to avoid exposing other people when they cough or sneeze.

People wear masks for a variety of reasons, including to avoid pollen and air pollution, as a courtesy to others when they have the common cold, and for other cultural and even social reasons. This is an acceptable use of face masks.

If we see our friends, neighbors or other community members wearing a mask, we should not assume that they have been exposed to coronavirus or any other illness. We should avoid making assumptions about why someone is wearing a mask and make sure not to stigmatize or discriminate against people who choose to wear masks.

Guidelines from Public Health.

We developed a lesson for all teachers to instruct students on best practices for preventing the spread of illness, including proper handwashing. All students K-12  received this instruction by March 6. As always, students will be reminded to wash their hands before eating and after using the bathroom. We have also installed and/or refilled hand sanitizer dispensers in schools. We have directed staff to ensure all students use hand sanitizer before school meals.

Hard surfaces and frequently touched areas such as stair rails and door knobs are wiped down with a disinfectant solution multiple times a day. Cafeteria surfaces are disinfected before and after each lunch. Buses are wiped down between routes. 

In addition, here is a list areas our school custodians clean daily:

• All door knobs
• All stair handrails
• All elevator doors/buttons
• All light switches
• All drinking fountains
• All crash bars on doors
• All sink faucets 
• All urinal/toilet handles
• All dispensers

Highline is no longer collecting or sharing information about reported COVID-19 cases involving students and staff to school communities. This decision was made to align with changes at Public Health Seattle & King County. Due to the increased number of cases, Public Health’s is now focusing on community education and support; it is not providing case or contact investigations. Through our partnership with Public Health we will continue to provide up-to-date information about COVID-19. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 should contact their health provider. Each person should stay informed and practice social distancing for the protection of themselves, their family, and the community.

We kept our schools open as long as possible, as recommended by state and local public health authorities. In addition to education, schools provide vital support to our communities and closure has a major impact on our families. Public Health shared their reasoning on waiting as long as possible to close schools. Governor Inslee made an executive order to close schools on March 16.

School meals will be provided for students during the closure. Meals will be available to all students under the age of 18. Nor forms or registration are required. Students can drop by any of our identified sites to pick up a meal.

Here are the site locations and times.

All activities, athletics and after school programs are canceled during the closure.

We are suspending all school day and overnight field trips, including Camp Waskowitz,  thru at least April 24.

All athletics are suspended through at least April 24.