Kennewick schools cancel meal deliveries over hazardous air. Pasco moves meal pickup inside

The Kennewick School District has canceled delivering school meals and homework packets and is closing on-site child care on Monday because of the hazardous air quality in the Tri-Cities.

And the Pasco School District moved picking up lunches inside its school buildings.

Remote learning will continue for students in both districts.

Kennewick schools

In Kennewick there will be no on-site remote learning support or on-site Tier 3 services for students at schools, said the district’s website. And there will be no YMCA on-site child care.

No K-2 packets will not be distributed at bus stops until Tuesday and Wednesday, assuming that the air quality is safe, said the release.

Also, no meals will be given out at bus stops but a drive-up food service is planned.

Free meals can be picked up 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in front of these Kennewick schools: Amistad, Amon Creek, Eastgate, Fuerza, Westgate, Chinook, Desert Hills, Highlands, Horse Heaven Hills, Park, Kamiakin High and Southridge High.

Pasco schools

In Pasco, students will go indoors to pick up their meals. Face coverings and social distancing will be required.

And the meal schedule will be shorter to limit student exposure to the hazardous air, said the district.

Meals will be available for pickup from noon to 1 p.m. at elementary schools, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m at middle schools and noon to 1 p.m. at high schools.

Students are encouraged to wear masks and limit their time outside, said the district website. Kids are encouraged to bring a bag or backpack to carry the meals home.

The procedures will remain in place until further notice, said the district.

▪ Kingspoint Christian School in Pasco is closed Monday because of the hazardous air quality.

Much of the smoky air blanketing the Tri-Cities over the weekend came from a mass of smoke from Oregon fires that moved over the Pacific Ocean northwest from Oregon fires and then moved across the state of Washington.

This story was originally published September 13, 2020 at 5:15 PM.