DAYTON–School District Superintendent Guy Strot is working diligently with the local Public Health Department and staff to form a safety plan for school opening later this month. The plan will also include a response protocol for when COVID is contracted by someone in the school.

The plan is set to be released to the public August 6. Strot says that it will likely be adjusted, as needed, in the weeks leading up to school opening in respond to the latest developments of the virus in and around the community.

The current community safety protocols for COVID would apply in the schools including social distancing, when possible, keeping hands washed and surfaces cleaned, limiting group use areas and group activities, using some barriers, where appropriate and the wearing of masks.

As with positive cases in the community, any positive case in the school would require isolating within the home away from any others in the household (WAC 246-100-045), as well as the quarantining of those who have been in close contact as determined through contact tracing. The specific protocol for how this will be followed for those in Dayton schools should be outlined in the plan.

Dayton School District continues to engage the community through the Dayton Chronicle, the school's website and social media, about how they are approaching the opening of schools. The district has recently emailed a survey to parents in an effort to gather information about parent's schooling plans for their children. This will help determine the number attending in-person school and those who have chose an alternate educational path. It will also help keep parents, students and the district actively moving forward in their educational pursuit.

The district is planning to offer distance learning for families who don't want their children to attend in-person class. The administration advises parents that it will look different than it did last spring. Some families are also opting to choose homeschooling, independent of the school district in response to COVID. In either case, these families may want to take extra precautions by keeping their children out of the schools, or they feel uncomfortable with sending them when they are required to wear masks and keep social distancing all day.

Some families find homeschooling an opportunity to engage with their children and provide more consistency during an unpredictable time. One such family, Seth and Paula Murdock have opted to continue schooling their two boys at home. "My husband, Seth and I have always liked the idea of homeschooling," said Murdock. "I have a teacher's degree and with his work schedule it made sense in order to spend more time as a family. We also wanted more consistency and not knowing if school would be shut down then reopened, one day to the next, was stressful," Murdock continued. "We do appreciate everything Dayton schools did. We felt they did an excellent job with the crazy circumstances."

While other families with children needing additional help, find it more of a necessity to have their children attend in-person classes. Having school during the week provides a return to a daily schedule and routine which for some students is essential. Mickie Marll has a daughter who will be going into fifth grade this fall. Even though she is smart as a whip, she is very easily distracted and is one of those students who find success through in-person instruction. "During the spring, her teachers connected with her through Zoom and email, but it was not enough," said Marll. "She did it, but was only just participating, not learning. She requires that one-on-one in Title 1 for math and reading."