Frequently Asked Questions

If you are traveling overseas (to China but also to other places) follow the CDC’s guidance: wwwnc.cdc.govtravel.

Steps you can take to prevent spread of flu and the common cold will also help prevent coronavirus:

• Wash hands often with soap and water. If not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home while you are sick and avoid close contact with others.
• Cover your mouth/nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
• Currently, there are no vaccines available to prevent novel coronavirus infections.

If you must be in public, health officials are recommending individuals wear facemasks as there as it may prevent those infected by the virus from spreading it. 

Keeping a child home when they are ill is crucial to helping them rest and recover and preventing the spread of illness. We ask you to keep your child home, as needed, if they have:

• An earache or severe headache
• Fever (oral temperature 100 degrees or more)
• Sore throat or swollen glands
• Coughing, chills or runny nose
• Skin rash or sores
• Inflammation of the eyes
• Nausea, vomiting or other stomach flu symptoms
• Pain or swelling of any kind
• Diagnosed communicable disease.

Typically, a child can return to school when symptoms have subsided and his or her temperature remains normal for 24 hours. In light of the novel coronavirus, the CDC is advising that anyone who has a fever avoid public settings for at least 72 hours after someone's temperature returns to normal. View the CDC's guidelines for individuals who are showing symptoms of COVID-19

Testing for COVID-19 is currently only available for those with documented direct exposure to someone with the virus or a recent travel history that may indicate exposure. Local health officials recommend calling your regular doctor before going in for an appointment or visiting a walk-in clinic or urgent care center. They also are asking community members to not go to an emergency room unless it is essential. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve those with the most critical needs.

Social distancing is the proactive approach of limiting the spread of an illness by reducing opportunities for it to be passed between individuals. Closing schools along with other measures such as limiting the size of gatherings and urging people to stay home as much as possible are intended to slow the spread of the virus and ensure the health care system can provide adequate care.

Gov. Jay Inslee ordered all schools to close no later than Tuesday, March 17 and initially through Friday, April 24 as part of a broad effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Out of an abundance of caution, Superintendent Dr. Rick Schulte determined Richland schools would also be closed Monday, March 16. Gov. Inslee later extended the building closure through the remainder of 2019-20 school year.

Health experts have indicated that it is a matter of time before most members of our community are sickened by the virus, with some becoming seriously ill. Limiting social contact, such as closing schools, is expected to slow the virus' spread so the healthcare system is not overwhelmed.

In the early weeks of the school building closure, the district reviewed options for continuing instruction should schools be closed in response to COVID-19 and determined that it would instead make up missed days later in the school year if possible. The Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) informed school districts that formal online instruction should only be offered if the services can be made accessible to all students.

Implementing an online learning or alternative learning experience (ALE) presents the district with numerous challenges including but not limited to:

• Lack of infrastructure to support students online outside schools
• Need for proper staff training to provide online instruction
• Incompatibility with needs of students with Individual Education Programs (IEPs)
• Incompatibility for instruction of hands-on courses (laboratory science, career & technical education)
• Inability to ensure the requirements of full-day kindergarten are met.
• Inability to ensure students can access the assessments associated with dual credit coursework.
• Inabililty to track the attendance of both students and staff.
• Inability to ensure the systems in use are secure and will not allow for the release of protected student or staff information.
• Inability to support non-instructional services for students (i.e. school meals)
• Preference of many families to limit screentime for students
• Necessity of constant parent supervision to keep students on task

Beginning in April, the district instituted the At-Home Learning Program in response to the state's direction toward keeping students and families more connected to schools and our community's interest in providing continued instruction. Learn more about At-Home Learning. 

State education officials instituted an emergency rule to allow districts to waive the days and instructional hours that districts are not able to make up as a result of closures from COVID-19. This rule requires school districts to continue providing instruction via distance learning for an additional five days beyond the district's original last day of school. For Richland School District, that moves the last day of school to June 16.

Health officials report that standard cleaning and disinfecting is sufficient to kill COVID-19 on surfaces. The district’s custodial and maintenance programs continue to emphasize and implement best practices in cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing methods. Custodial staff also look for any updates from local and state health officials for any additional efforts needed to prevent the spread of the virus.

Learn more about our Custodial Practices

All of our high schools will have virtual graduation ceremonies that will be broadcast online on June 5 at the originally scheduled times for their events. Virtual ceremonies were determined as the best option given that our county remains in the state's most restrictive phase for social distancing and limits on large groups because of persistently high numbers of cases of COVID-19. Schools are tentatively planning in-person celebrations for the Class of 2020 in August in the hopes those restrictions are lifted.

The district is committed to ensuring students on track to graduate with the Class of 2020 receive their diploma. The State Board of Education approved “Emergency Rules for Certain Graduation Requirement in Response to Novel Coronavirus.” Seniors will be expected to demonstrate competency in their classes and we will provide options to do so. Seniors are expected to still have completed their High School & Beyond Plan in order to graduate.

AP tests are going to be offered online, from home. There are free study resources and classes on the College Board website, and you may email your AP teacher for more help, too. Please see the College Board website for more information.

All Running Start courses are being offered online. Please note CBC’s spring break was extended and spring quarter began Monday, April 13. Running Start students should reach out to their college professors as needed. You can also contact your high school counselor if you need assistance.

The district is working with Central Washington University and high school teachers in an effort to maintain all current college credit options for College in the High School classes.

Please contact your school counselor or school principal. They can help you with FAFSA/WASFA questions, award letter questions, and other college entrance questions you might have.

Yes, the online program at River’s Edge is continuing.

Students and families who need access to lockers, desks, and backpacks in schools may visit their school on Tuesday, March 17 through Friday, March 20. Here’s how that works:

• Elementary schools & Early Learning Center: Students and families may contact their school’s office to make arrangements.
• Middle and high schools and alternative programs: Buildings will be open to students and parents starting Tuesday, March 17 through Friday, March 20. Each school will communicate a schedule to their students and parents directly on Monday, March 16.

After Friday, March 20 there will be no general access to school sites for staff and students. Schools will inform families of when students may return books and other school materials at the end of the school year and pick up any remaining personal items.

View the tab "For The Class of 2020" for answers to questions affecting graduation and seniors.

State education officials initially directed districts to provide supplemental educational support to students during the closure while not requiring students to complete any schoolwork or earn grades. The district has since instituted its At-Home Learning Program to keep students engaged and follow state direction to continue providing instruction. Learn more about At-Home Learning.

AP tests are going to be offered online, from home. There are free study resources and classes on the College Board website, and you may email your AP teacher for more help, too. Please see the College Board website for more information.

The state has canceled all standardized testing for the purposes of state and federal accountability for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.

The online test administration platform for Smarter Balanced assessments will be open Monday, April 27 through Friday, June 5. This will support:

• high school students in the classes of 2020, 2019, or earlier who have not yet met the pathway graduation requirement and who would like to use a Smarter Balanced assessment to achieve that pathway requirement; and
   
• high school students wanting to take the Smarter Balanced ELA summative test to earn the Seal of Biliteracy.

The district will release more details about testing in the coming weeks.

Columbia Basin College and Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities are serving Running Start students while schools are closed, though students should check with the institution they are taking courses through to learn about any adjustments to deadlines and other requirements in response to the novel coronavirus. The district is working with state education officials and Central Washington University about how to address College In The High School courses, which are taught by RSD staff.

Spring sports in middle and high schools are suspended for the season. Spring sports fees will be refunded over the coming weeks.

At this time, there will be no general access to school buildings during the closure. Outdoor athletic fields will still be open to the public though community members must follow local and state health officials guidance for social distancing to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. No organized athletic practices or competitions will be permitted.

The district is providing sack breakfast/lunches at many of its schools and delivering them to locations around the district.

Learn More About Student Meal Assistance

We understand that some of our families do not currently have Internet access in their homes, making it difficult for their children to stay connected to their teachers. Charter Communications is offering FREE Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi Internet access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. Families may enroll by calling 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.

Students and families who need access to lockers, desks, and backpacks in schools may visit their school on Tuesday, March 17 through Friday, March 20. Here’s how that works:

• Elementary schools & Early Learning Center: Students and families may contact their school’s office to make arrangements.
• Middle and high schools and alternative programs: Buildings will be open to students and parents starting Tuesday, March 17 through Friday, March 20. Each school will communicate a schedule to their students and parents directly on Monday, March 16.

After Friday, March 20 there will be no general access to school sites for staff and students. Schools will inform families of when students may return books and other school materials at the end of the school year and pick up any remaining personal items.

View the tab "For The Class of 2020" for answers to questions affecting graduation and seniors.

State education officials initially directed districts to provide supplemental educational support to students during the closure while not requiring students to complete any schoolwork or earn grades. The district has since instituted its At-Home Learning Program to keep students engaged and follow state direction to continue providing instruction. Learn more about At-Home Learning.

The state has canceled all standardized testing for the purposes of state and federal accountability for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.

The online test administration platform for Smarter Balanced assessments will be open Monday, April 27 through Friday, June 5. This will support:

• high school students in the classes of 2020, 2019, or earlier who have not yet met the pathway graduation requirement and who would like to use a Smarter Balanced assessment to achieve that pathway requirement; and
   
• high school students wanting to take the Smarter Balanced ELA summative test to earn the Seal of Biliteracy.

The district will release more details about testing in the coming weeks.

Spring sports in middle and high schools are suspended for the season. Spring sports fees will be refunded over the coming weeks.

The district is providing sack breakfast/lunches at many of its schools and delivering them to locations around the district.

Learn More About Student Meal Assistance

Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties will provide emergency childcare to support first responders, healthcare workers, essential community personnel, and those parents who must work to maintain employment. These services will be available at the following locations: Sacajawea, Marcus Whitman, White Bluffs, Badger Mountain, and William Wiley elementary schools. The Club does recommend that, if at all possible, kids stay home in keeping with public health safety standards. Visit the Boys & Girls Club website for more information: greatclubs.org

The district is providing special education services while building are closed. More information can be found in our Parent's Guide To At-Home Learning. 

The district will distribute Chromebooks to students in Grades 2-5 to use at home during the closure to support their independent learning activities. Each elementary school sent out pickup schedules to their families.

We understand that some of our families do not currently have Internet access in their homes, making it difficult for their children to stay connected to their teachers. Charter Communications is offering FREE Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi Internet access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. Families may enroll by calling 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.

We are encouraging families to be able to follow updates from the district during the course of the closure. The district will communicate with families in several ways:

• Direct email (must be on file with a child’s school)
• District and school websites
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Phone (must be on file with child's school)
• FlashAlert

The district office is closed to the public due to COVID-19.

The following employees are defined as essential staff:

• Year round (260 day) employees (administrators, secretaries, principals, some support services)
• Building secretaries (all – leads, ASB, attendance, etc.)
• Classified staff in district departments (HR, Payroll, SpEd Department Office, TLC, etc.)
• Those explicitly directed by their supervisor to report to work

No employee should come into buildings if they are actively sick. In this event, notify your supervisor for specific instructions.

Salaried staff and hourly workers (paraeducators, secretaries, MOT, Nutrition Services, ASG) will continue to be paid through the closure so long as the district continues to receive state funding. isn’t The district does not anticipate any shortfalls in funding during the six week closure. Salaried employees will not have any paycheck interruption either. School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) health care benefits will continue for eligible employees. The district will honor all spring sport coach stipends for the 2020 season. 

All sub jobs – both short term and long term – through the remainder of the 2019-20 school year have been canceled, which means that both Short and Long Term Subs won’t be paid during this time and are encouraged to file for unemployment. There may be a few case-by-case exceptions that the district’s Human Resources department will manage.

The state’s Employment Security Department (ESD) has set up a resource for those whose jobs are affected by the novel coronavirus: https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19. The State has indicated that unemployment applications due to COVID-19 are being fast-tracked.

Buildings will be open during school hours for staff to get personal belongings during the week of March 16-20. Our intent is to close buildings to general access for employees after March 20. This means employee badges will not work after March 20 through the end of the school closure.

All employees are expected to monitor their RSD e-mail at least once per day for official communication and directions. Not all employee announcements will be communicated publicly so please keep an eye on your email. Individual departments/schools may have other ways to communicate with employees but we will use the RSD e-mail system for everyone.

The district office is closed to the public due to COVID-19.