Superintendents from 14 school districts in Pierce County say it’s good news that the county’s coronavirus cases have dropped, which gave them the go-ahead to gradually start reopening schools.
However, the superintendents also echoed concerns from the health department that the Labor Day weekend could have a negative impact on getting students back into the classroom, as the area saw a spike in cases following the Fourth of July weekend.
The state's decision for returning to school has elementary students returning first because they are at a lower risk of contracting the virus. It recommends "over time" plans be considered for middle and high schools.
Nancy Sutton, of the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, said there's no "number" or threshold for how many cases of coronavirus over the holiday weekend would cause them to rescind their recommendation, but they will continue to evaluate as information comes in.
She said the department has been working closely with the districts and sharing data to help them formulate plans.