The Centralia High School Board of Education discussed the plan for students’ return to classes this August at Thursday’s meeting.
The tentative plan looks much like it would have before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic—classes will be held in person on the school’s regular schedule. Currently, planned restrictions related to COVID are minimal. Masks are recommended but not required in the building for non-vaccinated students and staff, social distancing is encouraged, and there are no plans to require students to show proof of vaccination for any reason.
Superintendent Chuck Lane says those with COVID will be marked absent like any other illness, but those the school is telling not to come because they are on quarantine will not.
“A doctor’s note for extreme situations, even quarantines won’t really be remote, it will be treated as you are home from school, but we have the Chromebooks now and teachers are posting things online, but the idea of saying you are going to do remote learning, those days are over,” said Lane.
The school will maintain extra staff to assist the nurse with COVID-related issues and contact tracing. They will continue to use the rapid testing program that indicates almost immediately if a student or staff member is COVID positive.
Lane wants to hold a vaccination clinic at the high school, but he reports right now there is not enough Pfizer vaccine available in the county. Right now Pfizer is the only vaccine cleared for those as young as 12.
Lane emphasized that they would monitor the COVID situation and change policies as circumstances demand.
Centralia High School student registration for the upcoming school year will take place on August 11 for seniors, August 12, for juniors and sophomores, August 13 for freshmen, and August 16 will be a make-up day for those who cannot register on one of the previous dates. Classes will return to session on August 18.
Those with questions about the registration process or new to the district are encouraged to call the Centralia High School office for more information.
In personnel action, the board accepted the resignation of Social Science Teacher Trace Turner and Attendance Office Secretary Kristen Kessler. Doug Owens was hired as a full-time custodian, Dan Knox as a social science teacher, Ben Ashby as a substitute social science teacher, Kristina Willey as a part-time homebound teacher, and Ryan Hargis as in-school supervision.
