February 28, 2022
HSD Families:
This morning, Governor Inslee announced that our state’s indoor mask mandate will be lifted on Saturday, March 12. This means that masks will no longer be required in schools as of Monday, March 14. This new date, which is aligned with Oregon and California, is nine days earlier than the one Inslee announced a few weeks ago.
At the same time, federal masking requirements on school buses are also being rolled back. So, barring any future changes from our state or Clark Public Health, all of this means that two weeks from now masks will become optional in both our schools and school buses. Until March 14, masks will continue to be required for all students, staff, and visitors in all HSD buildings and on buses. Masks will continue to be provided for those who do not have them, and all of our current school expectations and consequences relating to the mask requirement will remain in effect through Friday, March 11.
As you can imagine, there are still many details that need to be understood and decided. The Washington State Department of Health will be releasing updated school guidelines next week, which should provide more information and clarification for schools. We will share this information when it is available.
You can read the full announcement about the end to indoor mask requirements after March 11, HERE.
Thank you for your continued flexibility as we do our best to navigate - and communicate - these changing requirements.
Sincerely,
Steve Marshall
Superintendent
Hockinson School District