The 2020-2021 school year has truly been like no other. With students officially returning to the school building full-time, so are many new precautions designed to assure the safety of both staff and students. 

The halls of Central Kitsap High School send a clear message; wear your mask and maintain distance. Countless signs and posters plastered with COVID-19 graphics and bold lettering now decor the building’s interior. Hand sanitizer has become a staple for each classroom, and staff reside outside the doors of the school each morning armed with a bottle. 

Last year the Central Kitsap School District offered limited in-person instruction. COVID-19 attestations were required each morning and the newfound emphasis on the disinfection of school property and transportation was more apparent than ever. 

While many of the safety measures have made a return, others appear to have been left behind. While the aforementioned screenings are no longer a daily event, the capacity for restrooms in the school building has seemed to stay the same, with no more than two people being permitted at a time. Lockers have remained out of use for the past year and a half, similarly to the water fountains, which are now only usable through their bottle filling stations.  

Many students have expressed their mixed feelings about some of the COVID-19 guidelines. Iris Locure, a freshman at CKHS, spoke on her concern towards crowding in the halls and incorrect usage of masks. “It’s not that good because I’m running into people in the halls,” Iris voiced. “Some people are not wearing their masks correctly.”

In Governor Inslee’s 20-9.4 proclamation for K-12 schools residing in Washington state, Inslee orders the compliance of school districts with the Department of Health, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and the Department of Labor Industries’ requirements. 

Most notably, this resulted in an indoor mask requirement for all staff and students. The OSPI’s official website states that any school district that is not in compliance with the mask mandate will have funds withheld. 

Similarly, a COVID-19 vaccination requirement for employees of public and private K-12 schools had been ordered by Inslee on August 18, 2021, and school employees had until October 18 to be completely vaccinated or obtain a religious or medical exemption. Students have not yet been required in the Central Kitsap School District to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, though it is highly recommended by the CDC. 

Since January 29, the Central Kitsap School District has a COVID-19 tracker documenting past and present COVID-19 cases and instances of quarantine in students and staff at all 19 CKSD schools. As of October 22 there have been 49 positive cases since the start of the school year. In the entire district there have been 213.