Battle Ground Public Schools

Battle Ground Public Schools preparing for high school hybrid learning March 15

Feb. 23, 2021

Battle Ground Public Schools is preparing to bring high school students into the classroom for hybrid learning beginning the week of March 15. Clark County Public Health announced this week that COVID-19 activity has dropped to 137 cases per 100,000 residents. In accordance with the state metrics, school districts can bring high school students into buildings for in-person learning when the COVID-19 activity level falls below 200 cases.

Battle Ground kindergartners have been attending school in-person since early November. The hybrid learning model was expanded in early February to include all primary students (grades K-4), and all middle school students entered the hybrid model Feb. 22.

“I am immensely proud of the resilience shown by our students and staff during an extremely challenging year,” said Superintendent Mark Ross. “Having all our students back in buildings and learning in person is a big step toward normalcy.”

The district will follow state health guidelines for safety and cleaning protocols, including for attestation, physical distancing, the wearing of face coverings, personal hygiene, and cleaning. Face masks are required for all staff and students per Washington State Department of Health, except under special circumstances such as a developmental or health diagnosis. Students will be permitted to remove masks to eat meals and during physically-distanced outdoor activities. In addition, the district has allocated resources to a nurse on special assignment who has been working with Clark County Public Health to lead investigations, conduct contact tracing and provide COVID-19 information and resources to families when there is a positive case in our schools.

To accommodate physical distancing during in-person learning, students have been divided into two groups. All students will have two days each week of direct instruction, with Group A meeting in person on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Group B students attending on campus on Thursdays and Fridays. The remaining three days, students will continue independent learning at home. During independent learning time, teachers will provide assignments for students to continue working on at home.

“The health and safety of students and district staff is our first priority as we move towards welcoming students back into our buildings,” said Deputy Superintendent Denny Waters. “We are committed to doing this safely and we will adjust, adapt and change as need be to ensure that it happens.”