- Pasco School District
- COVID-19 Safety
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Pasco School District has implemented several safety measures and protocols due to COVID-19. We want to emphasize that the most important methods of preventing COVID-19 include getting vaccinated, wearing face masks/coverings, maintaining a distance of 6 feet from others, washing hands frequently and staying home when feeling ill.
Please click on the tabs below for more information about COVID-19 activity, daily student health screenings, masks, school cleaning and sanitizing, and more.
COVID-19 Dashboard
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Pasco School District's COVID-19 Dashboard summarizies data reported by staff, families, and the Benton-Franklin Health District (BFHD) regarding enrolled students and staff who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are (or were scheduled to be) physically present at district locations during their infectious period.
When there is a confirmed case, the school's COVID Support Team completes the necessary investigation and makes required notifications. The district regularly meets with BFHD to review case rates, COVID protocols, and safety recommendations.
COVID-19 Notification Protocols
COVID-19 Notifications of Reported Positive Cases
When the school district receives notice of a confirmed case of COVID-19 for a staff member or student in one of its buildings, the school district will complete a case investigation and notify high-risk individuals if there was a potential exposure identified. The school district will also post information about confirmed cases on this page.Case Investigations
The Benton-Franklin Health District partners with the school district to conduct case investigations, when necessary, following the DOH's Guidance to Mitigate COVID-19 Transmission in K-12 Schools. As outlined in this guide, close contacts are generally defined as follows:Classroom or School Closure
It may be necessary to temporarily close a classroom or school for cleaning and sanitizing. If this occurs, families and staff will be notified and further information will be provided about how classes will be conducted during that time.Per Benton-Franklin Health District (BFHD), a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in a school when there are two or more laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases among students or staff with onsets within a 14-day period, who are epidemiologically linked, do not share a household, and were not identified as close contacts of each other in another setting during standard case investigation or contact tracing.
In case of an outbreak, the district will work with BFHD to determine if transmission is occurring in the school. The following will be considered to determine the need to close a classroom or school:
- There is a rapid increase in cases
- A prolonged chain of transmission (two or more outbreak generations) is believed to occur in the school.
- School cannot function due to insufficient teaching or support staff.
Benton-Franklin Health District COVID-19 Dashboard
View the Benton-Franklin Health District COVID-19 Dashboard HERE (NOTE: The latest 14-day rate per 1,000 people can be found on page two of the graph)
COVID-19 Health Screening/Info
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Each day that a student attends classes at their school, families or caregivers must conduct a COVID-19 screening. The screening must occur before school, including before the student rides the bus or engages in any school activity.
To complete the daily health screening, the parent, guardian or care giver must ask these questions each day the child will attend in-person classes:
- Is the child currently waiting for a COVID-19 test result?
- Has the child tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 10 days?
- Has the child been told by a medical professional to isolate or quarantine?
- Since the child last attended school, has the child experienced any of the following symptoms (not related to a pre-existing condition):
- Fever (100.4 F or higher) or chills
- Cough (new, changed, or worsening)
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Unusual fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea (two or more loose stools in 24 hrs.)
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, the student is required to stay home. Contact the school to excuse the absence and tell the school the child did not pass the health screening. A member of the school’s COVID-19 support team will contact you to determine when the child can return to school.
A parent, guardian, or care giver who sends a child to school attests that the answer to all of these questions is “no” and that the child has passed the daily health screening.
If Your Child Has or Develops COVID-19 Symptoms While at School
As parents and guardians, we ask that you take responsibility for making sure that your child remains at home when feeling ill. If your child is sent to school while ill or develops COVID-19 symptoms while at school, they will be immediately isolated, you will be required to pick them up, and they may not be allowed to return to school until they meet the return-to-school criteria.
Please review the latest Return to School Guidance from the WA State Department of Health HERE.
COVID-19 Testing
One of the best ways to decrease the spread of COVID-19 is to get tested. Getting tested does NOT increase the amount of disease in our community. Adequate testing allows for early identification of cases, quick isolation and decreases transmission rates. The district offers FREE testing to all students and staff - for more information on testing within the district, check out our COVID-19 Testing Information webpage. For the latest information about community testing sites and available free testing, check the Benton-Franklin Health District website.
Note: COVID-19 information is subject to change as new guidance is provided.
COVID-19 Online Resources
Benton-Franklin Health District (BFHD) - Coronavirus Information
BFHD: Updated Health Officer Recommendation on Reopening Schools (October 13, 2020)
BFHD: Reopening Schools Recommendation (September 14, 2020)
WA State Department of Health (DOH) - Coronavirus Information
DOH: Requirements and Guidance to Mitigate COVID-19 Transmission in K-12 Schools
DOH: COVID-19 Symptom Decision Trees for Schools
Washington State Coronavirus Information Website
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Coronavirus Resources
Masks/Prevention
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MasksBeginning March 12, masks will become optional in our school buildings and buses. Staff and students will have the choice to wear a mask at school, with the expectation that others’ choices will be respected.
A mask is: a tightly woven cloth face covering that covers both your nose and mouth. It can be:
- A sewn mask with ties or straps that go around the head or behind the ears.
- Made from a variety of materials like cotton, fleece or linen.
- Factory-made or home-made.
Wearing a mask is easy once you know how:
- Wash your hands before putting on your face covering.
- Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
- Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face.
- Make sure you can breathe easily.
- Try not to touch the face covering and hold by elastic around the ears instead. If you do accidentally, wash your hands.
CDC Infographic: How to Wear & Take Off a Mask
Hand Washing & Hygiene
Teachers will communicate, educate and reinforce appropriate hygiene, frequent handwashing and social distancing practices in ways that are developmentally appropriate for students. Hand sanitizer will be available if hand washing is not possible.
Cleaning Protocols
Custodians will perform daily cleaning/sanitizing of bathrooms, office counters, and high-touch surfaces. Additionally, custodians will routinely clean other identified/prioritized surfaces such as door push plates, door handles, sinks, water fountains, hand railings, etc.
An isolation room is provided for students who become ill at school where they can safely wait to be picked up by a parent/guardian. Once empty, the isolation room will be sanitized. Staff members will leave the campus if they are feeling ill.
Confirmed case of COVID-19 Cleaning Protocols
Cleaning and disinfection protocols following notification of a positive COVID-19 case will comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations.
Personal Protective Equipment
Available school PPE includes:
- Plexi-glass shields for all public-facing /walk-up secretary service windows
- Disposable masks at building entry points for individuals in need of face coverings
- Hand sanitizer stations close to the walk-up service window(s)
- Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes in the office area, health room and isolation room
- Hand sanitizer stations placed at multiple locations throughout the school buildings, including dry portable classrooms.
- Every classroom is equipped with hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes
Restocking Classroom Supplies
If a classroom teacher needs to replenish their classroom supplies, the teacher will contact the designated building secretary or administrator. Each building has a stock of gloves, disinfectant wipes, sanitizer and spray to replenish classrooms. When a building needs to replenish their building stock, the building secretary will contact the district PPE team. The district maintains a stock of items in the warehouse and continues to order stock as needed.
School Support Teams
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Please contact a member of your school’s COVID-19 Support Team for any of the following:
- If a student has tested positive for COVID-19;
- If a student has had a close contact with someone with COVID-19 AND has COVID-19 symptoms;
- If a student does not pass any one of the daily health screening questions;
- If you need to know what date a student may return to school after they quarantine.
SCHOOL COVID-19 SUPPORT TEAM Pasco Early Learning Center
1315 N. 7th Avenue
(509) 416-7848
Kristi Docken (Director)
Jessica Cole (Nurse)
Angelou Elementary
6001 N. Road 84
(509) 543-6748
Diana Cissne (Principal)
Eric Christensen (Asst. Principal)
Nicole Desmarias (Nurse)
Captain Gray STEM Elementary
1102 N. 10th Avenue
(509) 547-2474
Alejandro Ortiz (Principal)
Amanda Wilson (Asst. Principal)
Kimberly Ringo (Nurse)
Chess Elementary
715 N. 24th Avenue
(509) 543-6789
Dora Noble (Principal)
Kylee Sixkiller-Bossert (Asst. Principal)
Michelle Herres (Nurse)
Columbia River Elementary
9011 Burns Road
(509) 546-7440
Robin Hay (Principal)
Lana Siemon (Asst. Principal)
Erin Hultgrenn (Nurse)
Curie STEM Elementary
715 N. California Avenue
(509) 416-7810
Armando Castrellon (Principal)
Ines Capetillo (Asst. Principal)
Kim Lovelace (Nurse)
Emerson Elementary
1616 W Octave Street
(509) 543-6792
Brooke Schuldheisz (Principal)
Blanca Sabalza (Asst. Principal)
Leighsa Henderson (Nurse)
Franklin STEM Elementary
6010 Road 52
(509) 416-7114
Jennifer Melendrez (Principal)
Linnea Banta (Asst. Principal)
Erin Gwinn (Nurse)
Frost Elementary
1915 N. 22nd Avenue
(509) 543-6795
Yvette Tovar-Herrera (Principal)
Ramon Ayala (Asst. Principal)
Nora Lopez (Nurse)
Livingston Elementary
2515 Road 84
(509) 546-2688
Joe Jisa (Principal)
Emily Gomez (Asst. Principal)
Meghan Jones (Nurse)
Longfellow Elementary
301 N. 10th Avenue
(509) 547-2429
Claudia Serrano (Principal)
Kristen Wren (Asst. Principal)
Tricia Fotheringham (Nurse)
Markham Elementary
4031 Elm Road
(509) 543-6790
Wendi Manthei (Principal)
Erin Kerr (Asst. Principal)
Kelli Mitchell (Nurse)
McClintock STEM Elementary
5706 N. Road 60
(509) 416-7808
Waylon Duncan (Principal)
Scott Raab (Asst. Principal)
Denise Lang (Nurse)
McGee Elementary
4601 Horizon Drive
(509) 547-6583
Wendy Lechelt-Polster (Principal)
Holly Cozad (Asst. Principal)
Cheryl Shank (Nurse)
Robinson Elementary
125 S. Wehe Street
(509) 543-6086
Maria Sandoval (Principal)
Kelly Leonard (Asst. Principal)
Todd Riley (Nurse)
Three Rivers Elementary
3901 Road 84
(509) 416-8602
Jamie Bacon (Principal)
Eriberto Frias (Asst. Principal)
Wendy Ramos (Nurse)
Twain Elementary
1801 N. Road 40
(509) 543-6794
Chip Elfering (Principal)
Hilary Wingert (Asst. Principal)
Kimberly Sanchez (Nurse)
Whittier Elementary
616 N. Wehe Street
(509) 543-6750
Victor Silva (Principal)
Kathy Crowner (Asst. Principal)
Carla Schultz (Nurse)
McLoughlin Middle School
2803 Road 88
(509) 547-4542
Vikki Fogelson (Principal)
Melissa Abel (Nurse)
Ochoa Middle School
1801 E. Sheppard Street
(509) 543-6742
Jacqueline Ramirez (Principal)
Chris Cardenas (Asst. Principal)
Sarah Cram (Nurse)
Reynolds Middle School
9507 Burns Road
(509) 546-6000
Shannon Lockard (Principal)
Barbara Pierce (Asst. Principal)
Stephane Szendre (Nurse)
Stevens Middle School
1120 N. 22nd Avenue
(509) 543-6798
Raquel Martinez (Principal)
Rosemary Gilliam (Asst. Principal)
Kippy Becker (Nurse)
Chiawana High School
8125 W. Argent Road
(509) 543-6786
Jaime Morales (Principal)
Brian Baker (Asst. Principal)
Kate Hetzer (Nurse)
Delta High School
5801 Broadmoor Boulevard
(509) 416-7860
Mike Johnson (Principal)
Tania Guaman-Covert (Asst. Principal)
Kelli Mitchell (Nurse)
New Horizons High School
2020 W. Argent Road
(509) 543-6796
Seth Johnson (Principal)
Becky Hitchman (Asst. Principal)
Billie Wensveen (Nurse)
Pasco High School
1108 N. 10th Avenue
(509) 547-5581
Jake Stueckle (Principal)
Greg Domingos (Asst. Principal)
Rachael Stubblefield (Nurse)