Wahluke School District delays return to campus

MATTAWA — Wahluke School District has put off on-campus instruction until January.

Andy Harlow, the district’s interim superintendent, said the rise in coronavirus cases caused the district to review the plan for the lower grades to return to campus Dec. 1.

The new plan has kindergarten through second grade returning part-time beginning Jan. 5, third grade through eighth grade starting on-campus instruction part time on Jan. 12, and Wahluke High School students returning Feb. 11, at the end of the first semester.

Most instruction at Wahluke has been online since the start of the school year. Preschool children have been allowed on campus, and other kids have been allowed back for small group instruction.

The tentative schedule for hybrid instruction has students on campus four days per week. Students will be divided into morning and afternoon classes. Kids will have online instruction when they’re not in class. Instruction will be all-online on Mondays.

When on-campus instruction returns, parents will have the option to continue online instruction.

Reporter Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.