Posted on March 9, 2020

Seattle Schools Remain Open Amid COVID-19 Outbreak, Absentee Rate Goes Up

Ann Dornfeld, KUOW, March 7, 2020

Although many employers in the Seattle area are having employees work from home to avoid the spread of coronavirus, most schools remain open.

Seattle Public Schools is giving special emergency time off for salaried staff who are quarantined, or who are in high-risk groups. {snip}

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About 500 school staff members were out Thursday – twice the normal rate. But student absenteeism in the district is only slightly higher than usual, according to spokesperson Tim Robinson.

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Robinson says the district is staying open partly because so many students rely on school for other services, “things like health care or meals during the day. And we want that to continue as long as possible.”

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