With schools in the Twin Harbors set to begin the 2020-21 school year this coming week, all have adopted some form of online learning based on recommendations from local and state health departments.
Here’s a quick rundown of what each district is doing and where to find more information.
Aberdeen School District
According to a letter to school district staff published on the district website on Aug. 24, due to a spike in cases, the Aberdeen School District is “not able to offer any in-person options for instruction at this time.”
The district will open the school year in a “100 percent distance-only format,” also known as remote or online learning, for all grade levels across all schools in the district.
The site says the district will be monitoring local COVID transmission rates and will adjust its plan accordingly.
For more information, visit asd5.org.
Hoquiam School District
Schools in the Hoquiam School District will be entering an online-only instruction model for the 2020-21 school year while leaving open the possibility of moving to a hybrid model (online and in-person) if coronavirus infection rates decrease.
In an Aug. 20 memo to the school board, Superintendent Mike Villarreal recommended furloughing 58 non-supervisory classified employees after the decision was made to go online-only.
For more information, visit hoquiam.net.
Montesano School District
In a letter posted to the Montesano School District website by Superintendent Dan Winter on Aug. 14, the district decided to move to an online-only instruction model for all of its schools for the 2020-21 school year.
“While I know this is far from the perfect scenario for our students, based on the recommendations from the county health department as well as guidance from the state, we have determined that it is necessary to start the year with remote learning for all of our students,” Winter wrote. “ This does not mean that we have committed to a remote model for the entire school year, and we hope that things improve enough to where we can start bringing students back for face-to-face instruction sooner rather than later.”
For more information, visit monteschools.org.
Elma School District
The Elma School Board made the decision to move to a remote learning model for all of its schools according to a memo posted to the school district website posted on Aug. 7.
“After much consultation with the district leadership team, administration, the teacher’s association and the health authorities, we have made the decision to begin the school year remotely for all students,” the Board stated in the memo. “We realize this is not ideal, but we also realize there is no ideal. This is however, a starting point for instruction and as we can safely and sustainably return students to in person instruction, we will do so.”
For more information, visit https://www.eagles.edu/
Ocosta School District
Ocosta School District Superintendent Heather Sweet stated in letter posted to the district website on July 31 that the district will move to an online-only model for the upcoming school year.
The district approved a remote-learning model that will provide all students with access to a Chromebook laptop computer while requiring daily attendance and assignment completion.
For more information, visit ocosta.org.
Raymond School District
Per an Aug. 17 post on the district’s Facebook page, Raymond School District laid out plans for its remote learning model, which will include virtual meetings, school lunch pick-up/drop-off and assistance for special needs students.
“Our goal is to build a system that accommodates the current situation of remote education and allows easy adaptation to our eventual transition back to a face-to-face model,” the post stated.
For more information, visit https://raymondk12.org/ or the district’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RaymondSchoolsWA
Willapa Valley School District
The Willapa Valley School District announced on its website that it will go with a distance learning model for the 2020-21 school year with the hope that it will be able to return to providing in-person instruction in the near future.
“We know students learn best when they are in school, and schools provide many important social and emotional supports to students,” the post stated. “We remain determined to bring students in for face-to-face instruction as soon as the health department declares it is possible.”
The district also posted its Safe School Reopening Plan to its website and is available to download by visiting the district website at willapavalley.org and clicking on the “Willapa Valley School District Reopening Plan” post.
South Bend School District
South Bend schools will be using on online-only instructional model for the 2020-21 school year that will include structured schedules, standardized Google Classrooms for each grade, live and recorded instruction, live help sessions as well as special education provisions.
“Our goal and intent is to seamlessly transition from the remote model to our onsite face-to-face model when we are able,” Superintendent Jon Tienhaara wrote in a blogpost.
For more information, visit https://www.southbend.wednet.edu/.
North Beach School District
The North Beach School District will be moving to a remote learning model for the 2020-21 school year.
Like other districts in the Twin Harbors, North Beach SD aims to get students back into the classroom as soon as possible.
“We are keenly aware of the challenges that distance learning places on families. This is not our preferred way to return to school,” Superintendent Andrew Kelly said. “We want our scholars back in class.”
For more information, visit https://www.northbeachschools.org/.
Taholah School District
The Taholah School District announced on Wednesday the all k-12 students will start school on Sept. 2 in an online format.
The district will provide laptops to students and options for in-person assistance for special needs students is available.
For more information and to view the district’s re-opening plan, visit https://www.taholah.org/.
Wishkah Valley School District
The Wishkah Valley School District stated in an Aug. 13 memo on its website that it will move to a “virtual learning environment” then transition to in-person instruction if/when applicable.
“Wishkah Valley believes that our primary goal is to maximize student learning and student achievement in a safe, nurturing, supportive environment. This environment is best achieved in a face to face manner with an in-person teacher,” the memo stated. “Our aim is to serve students with as much face-to-face time with their educators and peers in schools as possible, yet minimize health and safety risks to students and staff.”
For more information and/or to view the district’s complete restart plan, visit http://wishkah.org/.
Cosmopolis School District
The Cosmopolis School District will move to a remote learning model for the upcoming school year.
“Due to this level of local disease activity, it is the local department of health’s recommendation to start the school year with a remote learning model In alignment with this guidance, Cosmopolis School District will begin the 2020-2021 school year in a full remote learning model,” stated the district on Aug. 5. “It has been our hope to start the school year with a face to face model, however this is not possible yet.”
For more information, visit https://www.cosmopolisschool.com/.
North River School District
The North River School District announced on Aug. 14 it will be using a remote learning model.
“Our number one priority is the safety and security of our students and staff. That means we will follow the recommendations from Pacific County and Grays Harbor Health Departments, and begin our school year using a distance learning model, except for students who need specialized services,” the district stated in a Facebook post.
For more information, visit nr.k12.wa.us or the district Facebook page at http://facebook.com/NorthRiverSchoolDistrict/.
