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Peninsula School District pauses return to classrooms

GIG HARBOR, Wash. — New coronavirus cases are going up in parts of Western Washington.

As cases rise, schools in the Peninsula School District are pausing re-opening plans.

There were 96 new cases reported Thursday in Pierce County.

The district emailed parents Thursday night saying that students in second-grade and up will not be returning to the classroom as planned.

Children in kindergarten, first-grade and some special education students returned to in-person learning on September 28, and will continue to go to the classroom.

Recently, KIRO 7 profiled the district as it piloted in-person learning with social distancing requirements on the bus and in the classroom.

There were temperature checks upon entry to buildings, parents had to sign daily health forms and only 13-15 students were allowed per class.

District officials said earlier if the trend in cases continued to go up, they would pause the process.