We know that this is frustrating to many of our students, families and staff members. We want you to know that we share in your frustrations. We continue to strongly advocate for the reopening of East Valley High School in our weekly meetings with the Yakima Health District. We feel strongly that we can reopen East Valley High School safely, as we have demonstrated at our middle school and all three elementary schools. However, they feel strongly that local school districts should halt any further reopening due to the high COVID-19 case rates at this time.

Official statement from the Yakima Health District:

At this time, COVID-19 positive case counts in Yakima County are at 1,062 cases per 100,000 residents over the past 14 days. Current Washington State Department of Health guidance for safe in-person education (DOH) recommends adding high school students to in-person learning when case rates are below 200/100K/14 days if the schools can demonstrate the ability to limit transmission in the school environment. I want to assure you that we have heard your concerns and are taking them very seriously. It is important to continue with our current recommendations for in-person learning until we get through this current surge.  In the meantime, we will be working to create an even more comprehensive safety plan to bring all students back to in-person learning. 

As we look toward the future, we are hopeful that we will receive updated guidance that allows us to proceed with bringing back EVHS students for hybrid learning in the second trimester. Until these recommendations are changed by our local health district officials, we continue to be committed to bringing in as many high school students as we can for additional support in small group settings. If you feel like your high school student is not receiving the level of support that they need to be successful, we encourage you to reach out to their teachers.  

In preparation for the reopening of our high school, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with our high school’s hybrid learning plans. Click here to review the hybrid learning presentation.