Reynolds High School closed for two days before full week of “short-term” distance learning

Due to COVID-19 exposures, the 2,680 students at Reynolds High School in Troutdale will revert to distance learning until Sept. 27.

There will be no school Sept. 16 and 17 to give educators time to transition to distance learning.

“Community spread of the COVID-19 virus continues and while the number of students or staff who have tested positive are small, these cases have required large numbers of students to quarantine due to possible exposure in the last few days,” said district officials in a message shared Wednesday. A flash alert message from the district wasn’t sent until Thursday at 5:35 a.m.

According to the district’s COVID-19 dashboard, there are eight positive cases among students and staff, districtwide, with 1,112 students and staff in quarantine.

All Reynolds High students have been in school since Sept. 8. Since Sept. 6, the district reports 875 high school students and staff members have had to quarantine, with four people testing positive for COVID-19.

Among the high school’s other measures, administrators are asking families to voluntarily provide vaccination status for their students, and there are no spectators allowed at sporting events “until further notice.” Only players, coaches, and support staff will be allowed.

Officials also said they will be implementing “reinforced seating charts” for classrooms and buses.

Schools all over the state have delayed the start to the school year, or closed individual schools due to COVID-19 associated problems, like staffing shortages.

Districts are not required to have any metrics or threshold of COVID-19 cases or exposures to go back to distance learning. The Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority have said its up to school districts and local public health departments to determine when to return to remote learning.