COVID-19 Information
COVID-19 information pages are no longer updated.
See the CDC's COVID website for current information and trends.
COVID-19 information pages are no longer updated.
See the CDC's COVID website for current information and trends.
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2020-2021 School Year Planning Community Webinar - July 30
Share 2020-2021 School Year Planning Community Webinar - July 30 on Facebook Share 2020-2021 School Year Planning Community Webinar - July 30 on Twitter Share 2020-2021 School Year Planning Community Webinar - July 30 on Linkedin Email 2020-2021 School Year Planning Community Webinar - July 30 linkOn July 30, District leaders hosted a Zoom webinar to share the Learning Forward plans for the 2020-21 school year with the community. The webinar was recorded for those unable to attend. Click here to watch the recording.
The PowerPoint Presentation from the August 6 School Board Presentation is now available by following this link.
For more information on planning for the 2020-21 school year, visit mercerislandschools.org/fall2020.
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CORONA Survey
Share CORONA Survey on Facebook Share CORONA Survey on Twitter Share CORONA Survey on Linkedin Email CORONA Survey linkWashington State DOH officials are hoping to understand economic, social, and behavioral impacts and needs of residents across the state. Help them out by taking part in the CORONA Survey.
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) launched the CORONA survey to assess the behavioral, economic, social, and emotional impacts and the needs of communities across the state as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Survey results will inform immediate, long-term, and ongoing actions that DOH and local health jurisdictions can take to address the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on Washingtonians.
In order to appropriately and equitably inform recovery plans at the state and local levels, DOH is requesting residents from across Washington to go to www.wacoronasurvey.com to take part in the survey. (To take the survey by phone, call 855-530-5787—interpreters are available to assist.)
The survey is voluntary and confidential.
At the end of the survey, participants will be given the option to provide their name, phone number and/or email address. Each week of the survey, three participants will receive a $100 Amazon.com gift code as a thank you for their time and participation.
If you have additional questions about the CORONA Survey, you can call the Washington State Department of Health at 1-800-525-0127.
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Free Mask Giveaway Events Continue
Share Free Mask Giveaway Events Continue on Facebook Share Free Mask Giveaway Events Continue on Twitter Share Free Mask Giveaway Events Continue on Linkedin Email Free Mask Giveaway Events Continue linkFREE MASK FRIDAY! Another mask giveaway from our City's fantastic Emergency Management volunteers! Stop by this Friday (August 21) from 7:00-10:00am (while supplies last) for your reusable cloth mask. #MaskUpWA
- Mercerdale Park (at the corner of SE 32nd St and 78th Ave SE by the picnics tables)
- Aubrey Davis Park (near the baseball field restrooms)
- Luther Burbank Park North & South Parking Lots
Can't make it tomorrow? Stop by the former Tully's lot in Town Center on August 28, from 11:00am-7:00pm!
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Back to School Info & Resources
Share Back to School Info & Resources on Facebook Share Back to School Info & Resources on Twitter Share Back to School Info & Resources on Linkedin Email Back to School Info & Resources linkIt is time for back to school!
We recognize that the start to the 2020-2021 school year is a little different, but we wish all of the students, parents, extended families, caregivers, MISD faculty, and staff all the best for the school year!
For information about the 2020-2021 school year click here: mercerislandschools.org/fall2020 Continue below for Superintendent Colosky's August 31 and the MISD Board's September 7 messages to Mercer Island families.
Did You Know? Even though school buildings are not physically open, school-based health centers will be open at 34 schools this fall. Click here for more information and locations.
Looking for ideas on how to help your kids through this quarter? Check out Best Starts for Kids post on Learning Pods: Back to School During a Pandemic.
On September 11, King County Public Health released this article entitled: Schools Preparing for a Measured Return to In-Person Learning. Click here to read the article.
The Department of Health has also put out the post, A healthy start to the school year, to help with ideas on making this different start to the school year, a good one.
Dear MISD families and community,
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year!
Five months ago, when I made the determination that it was necessary to enact an emergency closure of our schools, I continued to be hopeful that our students would come back to our buildings. I knew it would look different with all of the health and safety protocols that we would learn and institute as the science taught us more about how this virus behaves.
Now as we start the year under the Red Learning phase, I remain optimistic that we will be returning to our classrooms for in-person teaching and learning sooner rather than later. When it is safe to do so, we will bring students back to the school buildings, especially our youngest learners and our learners who are most impacted.
We will continue to review our plans every three weeks and work in collaboration with Public Health - Seattle and King County as well as referencing the Washington Dept. of Health Decision Tree for reopening that is applicable for all school districts in the state.
As we analyze the health data, we also will be tracking staff availability, along with student engagement and learning in determining which individuals and small groups may return to in-person learning. Please know that we are listening to your suggestions and reading your emails.
For students to be able to participate in the Orange Learning phase, the county-wide risk in the decision tree must be moderate or lower. As a reminder, our Orange phase means we will bring some students back for expanded in-person learning and participation. It is an essential element of reopening that we make every effort to keep students in cohorts as we transition to more in-person learning settings. It is also important when we do return to in-person learning, that we implement all the Covid-19 health and safety guidelines.
There continues to be broad evidence that supports our core value of supporting the whole child. Our first priority during this unprecedented time must be supporting our students’ social and emotional development in order for learning to progress. Although our classrooms will be starting virtually, we must still emphasize relationships as the means to support our students’ learning.
As our District’s Values, Vision and Mission states “students are the priority,” we will continue to focus on how to personalize our students' learning by getting to know them individually in order to build a trusted relationship, even if it is virtual to begin the school year.
This school year is going to be like none other, but we are all continuing to learn and grow together. We will greet new students, learn new skills, be frustrated with technology, and continue our work together as a caring community with a growth mindset - our kids need and deserve it.
Please visit our Fall 2020 website at mercerislandschools.org/fall2020 for continuing updates, and please post your first day photos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with the hashtag #MIFirstDay2020.
Sincerely,
Donna Colosky, SuperintendentSeptember 7, 2020 Message from the MISD Board:
Dear Mercer Island Schools families and community,
We hope this first week of the 2020-2021 school year has gone well. The continued COVID-19 pandemic has required us to start the school year in a remote learning environment, with limited exceptions for some of the most impacted students. Additionally, the District is facing a significant reduction in revenue for transportation for the 2020-21 school year due to decreasing availability of financial resources.
The state has strict guidelines on transportation funding and how it can be allocated and spent, which is for primarily transporting students to and from school. While Governor Inslee has expanded the terms of transportation funding, that funding still applies only to specific job duties. Unless the state Legislature acts to change the funding model, the District does not anticipate receiving any transportation funding for the second half of the 2020-21 school year.
The District, as directed by School Board policy, must balance our value of 'Students are the Priority' and maintaining a fiscally responsible budget, while ensuring that our employees receive the most generous compensation plan possible.
At this time, the District is shifting positions in the transportation department that are regularly funded through the state to partial unpaid furlough/stand-by-status. While hours have been reduced, drivers still have some work transporting our more impacted children to and from appointments in school buildings. Affected staff members have been notified, and the School Board will consider the reductions at its September 10 meeting.
This is not a decision that was made quickly or reactively. The Superintendent and School Board have been advocating for modifications in state funding since March in order to protect our transportation department. The District receives state funding for transportation based on student use for to/from school ridership. Being in a remote learning model has required us to make some incredibly difficult decisions regarding our transportation department staffing.
Those furloughed will continue receiving District employer contributions to health insurance benefits throughout the school year as determined by the School Employees’ Benefit Board (SEBB). There will be assistance for these employees in applying for unemployment benefits. Human Resources is also working to assist them in being eligible as substitutes for positions in other departments for which they are qualified. We anticipate the furlough to continue during the remote instruction period.
These are unprecedented times impacting every school district in the state. While that does not provide solace for our valued transportation staff members affected by these adjustments, please know that we continue to push the Governor and the Legislature for clear guidance and adjustments to the transportation funding model that will allow us to maintain staffing, provide services and pivot to in-person learning.
Please encourage your students to continue to wear masks and maintain the six-foot social distancing so that we can all return to in-person learning as soon as possible.
Mercer Island School District Board of Directors
Deborah Lurie, President
Maggie Tai Tucker, Vice President
Tam Dinh, Director
David D’Souza, Director
Brian Giannini Upton, Director -
Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19
Share Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19 on Facebook Share Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19 on Twitter Share Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19 on Linkedin Email Wildfire Smoke and COVID-19 linkWildfire smoke can cause symptoms that range from the annoying — eye, nose, and throat irritation — to the dangerous — wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Wildfire smoke is especially harmful for children, pregnant women, and people who are over 65. And if you already have a heart or lung condition like asthma or COVID-19, breathing in wildfire smoke can make it worse.
Take steps to keep smoke out and have better indoor air quality.
- You can do this by improving filtration and creating a clean air room in your home. If you create a homemade box fan air filter, never leave it unattended. Left alone, it is a fire hazard.
- When the air quality is poor, don’t add to indoor air pollution by burning candles or incense, or smoking inside.
- Close windows and doors when it’s smoky outside but open windows and let in fresh air when there’s better air quality outside.
- Wear your cloth face covering to slow the spread of COVID-19, but don’t think it is protecting you from the smoke. It keeps droplets from spreading, but lets dangerous microscopic smoke particles right in.
- Stay informed about wildfire smoke on the Washington Smoke Information blog and your local clean air agency’s website.
For more information to protect your health visit DOH's Smoke from Fires web page.
On Tuesday, September 8, the Mercer Island Fire Marshal's Office issued a burn ban and tips to help prevent or stop the spread of brush fires. Follow this link for more information: www.mercerisland.gov/burnban. -
Mask Giveaway Today!
Share Mask Giveaway Today! on Facebook Share Mask Giveaway Today! on Twitter Share Mask Giveaway Today! on Linkedin Email Mask Giveaway Today! linkOur amazing volunteers will be back out this evening to hand out masks to the community!Where: Former Tully's Coffee in Town CenterWhen: Tonight (October 15) from 5:00pm-7:00pmAfter you've practiced your Earthquake Preparedness drill (stop, drop, and hold on), head over and grab some washable, reusable, cloth masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your community.
See you there!
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Federal and County Tax Extensions
Share Federal and County Tax Extensions on Facebook Share Federal and County Tax Extensions on Twitter Share Federal and County Tax Extensions on Linkedin Email Federal and County Tax Extensions linkIn an effort to help individuals and businesses during this challenging time, King County and the IRS have extended tax filing deadlines. Please see below for links to information from King County and the IRS.
King County Postpones Payment Deadline to June 1 for Individual Property Taxpayers
Individual residential and commercial taxpayers who pay property taxes themselves, rather than through their mortgage lender, can delay payment until June 1, 2020 due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.
Banks and other financial institutions that pay property taxes on behalf of their lending customers will still need to meet the original April 30 deadline.
For more information visit the King County website: www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/constantine/news/release/2020/March/30-property-tax-extension.aspx
IRS Filing and Payment Deadline Extended to July 15
The Treasury Department and the IRS are providing special tax filing and payment relief in response to the COVID-19 Outbreak. The filing deadline for tax returns has been extended from April 15 to July 15. The IRS urges taxpayers who are owed a refund to file as quickly as possible.
For those who can't file by the July 15, 2020 deadline, the IRS reminds individual taxpayers that everyone is eligible to request an extension to file their return.
This filing and payment relief includes:
- The 2019 income tax filing and payment deadlines for all taxpayers, are automatically extended until July 15.
- This relief applies to all individual returns, trusts, and corporations.
- This relief is automatic, taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or call the IRS to qualify.
- This relief includes estimated tax payments for tax year 2020 that are due on April 15.
- Penalties and interest will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of July 16.
Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the July 15 deadline can request a filing extension by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Businesses who need additional time must file Form 7004.
For more information, visit the IRS website: www.irs.gov/newsroom/payment-deadline-extended-to-july-15-2020
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Two cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in Washington state
Share Two cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in Washington state on Facebook Share Two cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in Washington state on Twitter Share Two cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in Washington state on Linkedin Email Two cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in Washington state linkMultisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. Health officials do not yet know what causes MIS-C, however, they do know that many children with MIS-C had the virus that causes COVID-19, or had been around someone with COVID-19.
May 22, 2020, OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH), Snohomish Health District and Public Health—Seattle & King County are confirming two cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19.
The patients, one Snohomish County resident and one King County resident, both received treatment at Seattle Children’s Hospital. One patient is under the age of 10 and the other is between 10 and 19 years of age.
These are the only cases reported in Washington state residents to date. Health care providers in the United Kingdom were the first to recognize cases in late April, and providers in other states have identified cases as well. Following increased reports of previously healthy children presenting with a severe inflammatory syndrome with Kawasaki disease-like symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory last Thursday with a case definition.
“In Washington, we are tracking this issue closely and working with local health departments and providers to learn more,” said Dr. Kathy Lofy, state health officer for DOH. “Early last week we asked all health care providers in the state to be on the lookout and immediately report possible cases to local health authorities.”
The current case definition includes the following:
- Under the age of 21, with a fever, laboratory evidence of inflammation, and severe illness involving more than two organs that requires hospitalization; AND
- No other plausible diagnoses; AND
- Positive COVID-19 test, or exposure to a confirmed case, within the four weeks prior to the onset of symptoms.
“Seattle Children’s is committed to caring for our region’s most medically complex children, and our team of specialists is well-equipped to care for children presenting with this newly identified syndrome,” said Dr. John McGuire, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at Seattle Children’s. “Although it remains very uncommon, parents should call their primary care providers if their children are showing new or unusual symptoms, such as a persistent fever or headache, abdominal pain with or without diarrhea, fatigue, and respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath.”
“Parents who have concerns about possible COVID-19 in their children should contact their healthcare provider promptly,” said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “Identifying this syndrome early is important because treatments are available for the serious complications.”
“While the vast majority of children appear to have mild or asymptomatic infection, it’s important to remember that—although rare—some children can develop serious complications like these,” said Dr. Chris Spitters, health officer for the Snohomish Health District. “Our thoughts are with the young patient, their family and the care team at Seattle Children’s, and we wish for a speedy recovery.”
Given privacy concerns, public health officials will not release additional information on these cases.
Healthcare providers who have cared or are caring for patients younger than 21 years of age meeting MIS-C criteria should report suspected cases to their local public health agency. Additional guidance for pediatric healthcare providers was issued by CDC on May 15.
For more information on COVID-19, visit the Department of Health’s website or call 1-800-525-0127. More information on MIS-C and COVID-19 is also available from Seattle Children’s Hospital, Snohomish County Health District , Public Health – Seattle & King County and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
City Facilities and Programs
Open City Facilities
Closed City Facilities
- City Hall
- Luther Burbank Admin Building
- Fire Stations
Events and Programs
- Drop-in Sports at MICEC
- Community Emergency Response Training (CERT)
- Summer Camps
- Summer Celebration!
- National Night Out
- Visit the City's event calendar for more events!
Public Meetings
The City Council is meeting in a hybrid format (in-person and virtually). Visit the Council Connects page to learn how to participate. Boards and Commissions continue to meet virtually.
