Pandemic will impact school budget for 2021-22 and beyond

DAYTON–The school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic will impact the budget for the 2021-22 school year and likely into the following year. The district, as requested by the state, plans to write a minimalistic budget reduced by 10% or more and put money away to possibly prevent cuts from critical areas over the next year or two.

Educators and students have been transitioning into continuous learning at home since Gov. Jay Inslee mandated school closures on March 17, 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Superintendent Doug Johnson stated that many teachers "with a meeting app...are meeting with their classrooms in Google. They've talked about how exciting that is for kids because they get to see each and talk with each other a little bit just like when they're at school."

The school and families were initially given flexibility to have the children do optional enrichment activities both in the form of paper packets and online through email or Google Classroom. By the second week after the closure, the district was sending home Chromebooks to households for online learning. Teachers have been in regular contact with students and parents to check in with how they are doing with the learning format and to make sure their needs are being met.

Now with schools closed for the remainder of this school year, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is asking for children's work to be graded and attendance be counted for online class. However, the approach taken is that of "do no harm", meaning that educators are asked to be flexible with an understanding that distance learning will look differently for different students. The specific method of doing grading and assessing progress is not yet determined but is currently being developed by a statewide workgroup under the OSPI.

Some of the children did not have access to the internet at home. A program grant from the United Way of $3,000 has now provided access to twelve kids for three months with the help of Scott Underwood with service provided through Columbia REA and Touchet Valley TV.

Johnson affirmed that children will move on to the next grade for the 2021-22 school year unless discussions were already being had about keeping a child back before the school dismissal.

Seniors will also graduate as expected if they were in good standing as of the shutdown. The school will work with any senior who is not on track to get them graduated. The previously scheduled graduation ceremony on June 6, 2020 is cancelled, but plans are being made to honor the 2020 Senior Class on that day, as well as the release of the names of scholarship recipients. Some schools around the state are hoping to have a delayed graduation ceremony for later in the summer, but Johnson indicated that it's unclear if that is possible to plan for.

The schools also continue offering free breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday for the children. The lunchroom staff prepares and disperses meals at the elementary multi-purpose room. Bus drivers who formerly brought kids to and from school are now driving two buses and a school van to deliver meals to designated stops and even to homes with the help of administrative staff, teachers and volunteers.

Johnson reported that they usually serve around 200 each of breakfast and lunches per day. The lunches served are less than during normal school operation, but the breakfasts served are more. Though the program is offered through National School Meal Program, FEMA will likely reimburse the cost under the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration. Johnson stated that meals for both Thursday and Friday are now being delivered Thursday to give staff and volunteers Fridays off. Meals will be provided through June19.

Childcare is also provided at the school for up to around a dozen children of mainly first responders and health care providers. The childcare is being run by hospital staff with some volunteers from the school staff, employees from The Club and others from the community. The school custodians are cleaning and disinfecting the rooms and surfaces.