Seattle Public Schools will be closed for the next 14 days
Parents, get ready to entertain your young ones.
Beginning Thursday, March 12, all schools in the Seattle Public Schools district will be closed for a minimum of two weeks as a measure to slow the spread of COVID-19.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Office of Public Affairs released a letter to families explaining that the school closures for a minimum of 14 days is a necessary and effective way to disrupt widespread infection.
“The decision to close the district was extremely difficult. We know that closing our schools will impact our most vulnerable families and we recognize that working families depend on the consistency and predictability of supports and services our schools offer. We are working with partners and the city to determine how to best mitigate the impact closing schools will have on working families,” the Office of Public Affairs wrote.
Cancelations include school-day instruction, childcare, health services, enrichment, and more.
Seattle Public Schools will also be putting into place an emergency food plan on Monday, March 16, and will be providing more information regarding closures and emergency plans this Friday, March 13.
This news comes only hours after Mayor Jenny Durkan asked school districts in Washington State to immediately begin contingency planning for possible school closures.