After yet another laborious school board meeting, multiple 'workshops' and discussion and dissension, the Richland School District finally voted 3-1 to begin hybrid type education, bringing children back to class.

At Tuesday night's board meeting, the vote was 3-1 to begin on or around Oct. 26 with elementary students with preschoolers and kindergarten Oct 26th. Then 1st and 2nd graders Nov. 2, followed by the other elementary grades Nov. 9.

Due to the board apparently being fearful of what they said were climbing COVID rates in our area, no plan was made for middle or high school students returning anytime soon.

Dr. Amy Person of the BFHD has been encouraging B-F County School Districts to open for at least hybrid A-B or staggered learning, but Richland's School Board has shown to be the most fearful about letting students back in class.

Kennewick and Finley have already begun their A-B and/or staggered programs as has Columbia Burbank. Other B-F County Districts are moving ahead.

A number of Facebook pages devoted to pushing for in class learning voiced their opinions about this 'split' grade decision, and the majority of them were furious or at least upset. Several of these have anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 plus members, and they've been staging rallies in Pasco and Richland.

We are not sure sure what legal remedies there are available, but we have it on good authority, from multiple sources, that a group of parents are either pursuing or looking into starting a class action type of lawsuit against the Richland School Board and/or District.  We will update with more information as it becomes available.

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