Richland Schools to Open as Normal Friday, following Board Vote

(Richland, WA) -- Richland School will be open as normal for Friday

Statement from the Richland School District:

RSD schools will resume normal operations on Friday, Feb. 18. Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that the state mandate on face coverings will end on March 21. Many in our community have looked forward to this moment throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and our district will be prepared to make that transition.Until then the mandate remains in place for indoor spaces and masks will be required for those entering schools. Masks will also be required on school buses beyond March 21 as required by federal COVID-19 requirements for public transportation.The Richland School Board held an emergency meeting at 5 p.m. today. During the public session of that meeting, the Board voted to modify its Feb. 15 motion making masks optional in schools to take affect on March 21. This decision aligns district policy with state requirements and will allow students and staff to return to in-person learning.The district appreciates the community’s patience and understanding as we worked to resolve challenges this week. With near-normal conditions in our schools on the horizon, we ask our entire community to come together to support our students.