Coronavirus: What You Need to Know Now

Updated: March 9 at 5:45 p.m.

The health and safety of our students and staff is paramount, and we are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19.

We have no known cases of COVID-19 among students or staff in Highline. 

As coronavirus continues to affect our region, we want to reassure you that the safety of our students and staff is our top priority. Public Health Seattle & King County is not currently recommending that schools proactively close unless they have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a staff member or student.

Public Health has shared this rationale:

• Children are not known to get seriously ill from COVID-19
• Closing schools may not be effective because some children may congregate anyway at other locations
• Many parents, such as healthcare workers, need to be at work. If these critical workers stay home with children it causes significant impacts on the healthcare system and other institutions that are essential for our community to function
• If schools close, some children might have to stay home with alternative caregivers, such as elders, who are more vulnerable
• We don’t know how effective children are in spreading this disease

Learn more about how Public Health makes this decision. 

Please report any confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 affecting a staff member, student or family member to your school principal or the district Health Services office at 206-631-3011.

Updates

MARCH 9, 2020

• Prepare for possible early releases: We are monitoring our staff absences daily. If we do not have enough substitutes to cover staff absences in a school, the school may need to release students early. Please be prepared for a potential day-of schedule change, including child care plans. We will notify you of an early release by email, text and robocall.
• Conferences canceled: Based on developments over the weekend, we have decided to cancel spring conferences. Our initial thinking was that conferences involve small gatherings, and therefore align with Public Health recommendations to avoid gatherings of 10 or more. Public Health has also advised reducing face-to-face contact as much as possible. We have decided to err on the side of caution.
• School events & athletics: We are revising the 5:00 p.m. end time for after-school events and activities. We are extending the time to 6:00 p.m. This will allow custodial staff enough time to clean schools while reducing the impact on families who depend on after school childcare. This is in effect Monday, March 9 through March 20.
• Volunteers: We love and appreciate our volunteers. However, in an effort to limit the number of people visiting our schools, we are suspending volunteers in our schools. This includes parent/guardians and community members. Type 3 volunteers who work in partnership programs will still be allowed to run programs and activities. This is in effect Monday, March 9 through March 20.
• Remote learning:  We will not offer remote learning options should we have to close schools. This decision aligns with OSPI guidance and is rooted in our commitment to equity and ensuring all students have an equal chance at success. Read more about this on our FAQ page.
• Absences: If you decide to keep your child home, the absence will be excused. To excuse your student, either: 
  • Call the school office each day to excuse their absence. 
  • Or, when you call the office, let staff know your student will be absent and give a date when your student will return. If you wish to keep your student home past that date, call and let the school know.
  • If you do not call to report your student absent the student is automatically marked unexcused.