BFHD gives green-light to a return to in-person learning

TRI-CITIES, Wash.- Benton-Franklin Health Officer Dr. Amy Person has given school district the green-light to start planning for the return of in-person learning October 1st for Benton County districts plus North Franklin School District, and October 15th for the Pasco School District and others in Franklin County.

"It's going to be up to each district or school exactly how they are going to implement their plans and also when", BFHD Spokesperson Kathleen Clary-Cooke said. "So, where she says they could implement plans in Benton County and/or Franklin as early as October first, it's really going to be up to those school districts when they're actually going to start."

Students were barred from attending school in mid-March while the state dealt with the Coronavirus pandemic, and began the new year with distance-learning as well. Over that time, concerns were raised about not only the educational set-backs, but the mental health of the students.

"Dr. Person has taken all those things into account", Clary-Cooke adds. "So, with our numbers having decreased significantly since the beginning of July, and really over the last two months, we hope to see that continue."

The BFHD has also been in constant contact with the area school districts over a conference call for a few months regarding the situation.