Officials report the district does not have enough bus drivers to transport all of its students in the current format

The Vancouver School District announced Monday afternoon (Jan. 10) that its middle and high schools will be moving to remote learning days for the final three weeks of January.

Here is the statement from the district:

As we continue responding to the rapidly spreading COVID-19 omicron variant in Vancouver Public Schools, staffing remains one of our most critical challenges especially due to the impact of staff who are out due to illness/quarantine. We do not have enough bus drivers to transport all of our students in our current format, so it is necessary to implement a temporary schedule in which some of our schools will switch to four days of remote learning over the next three weeks. We are sorry for the impact on our students and families. This schedule could be adjusted if staffing levels increase or decrease. We are hopeful that full-time in-person learning will resume in February. Please watch for weekly updates.

Temporary remote learning schedule (middle and high schools only)

Jan. 11-14

McLoughlin Middle School

Fort Vancouver High School

(Two-hour late start on Tuesday, Jan. 11 only; the regular bell schedule will be followed at McLoughlin and Fort Vancouver on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week.)

Jan. 18-21

Columbia River High School

Skyview High School

Alki Middle School

Jason Lee Middle School

Jefferson Middle School

(Monday, Jan. 17, is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day; no school for students)

Jan. 24-27 

Hudson’s Bay High School

Discovery Middle School

Gaiser Middle School

Vancouver School of Arts and Academics*

Vancouver iTech Preparatory*

Vancouver Flex Academy*

(Friday, Jan. 28 is semester break, which is a non-attendance day for all students)

*On in-person days, shuttle buses for Vancouver Flex Academy, Vancouver iTech Preparatory or Vancouver School of Arts and Academics will continue from your neighborhood middle school. Shuttles for other magnet and career-technical education programs will continue from your neighborhood high school. 

On remote learning days

• School cafeterias, libraries and FCRCs will be open for students who need to access the internet or need a safe place to go during remote learning. 
• Grab-and-go meals will be available at each location on remote days from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
• Middle school extracurricular activities and athletics will be paused.
• High school extracurricular activities: Check in with your school.

VPS schools not listed above will continue in-person learning unless families are notified otherwise.

We are monitoring staff and student absences, unfilled staff positions and other considerations such as local and state case rates as well as changing guidelines. We will continue to provide regular updates.

We appreciate the patience of our staff and families as we navigate these challenges in our community. 

Information provided by Vancouver School District.