E. Wash. school district delays start of school year because of wildfires

Published 7:53 pm Monday, August 24, 2015

WELLPINIT — Tiny Wellpinit School District in eastern Washington is delaying the start of school because of wildfires in the area.

The Spokesman-Review newspaper reported that school on the Spokane Indian Reservation was scheduled to begin on Wednesday. But now students in grades 1 through 12 will start next Monday and kindergarteners are scheduled to begin Sept. 3 instead of next Monday.

The school district has about 350 students.

The principal of the Wellpinit middle school and high school says they decided to delay the start of school because of all the firefighting activity on local roads that will also be used by school buses. Air quality in the area was also a consideration.

District officials will meet Friday to reassess those start dates.