District ramps up Hotline services

District extends hours to Equity Outreach Hotline; new Hotline established for Special Education

Walla Walla Public Schools is ramping up telephone hotline services to students and families to better support prolonged distance learning amidst the pandemic. Hours for the Equity Outreach Hotline have been extended and will now be operational 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and monitored on weekends. District staff will field calls in English and Spanish for those who need assistance from accessing educational services and school programs to counseling support and general help information. Extended hours begin Monday.

- Equity Outreach Hotline: (509) 526-6787

“We understand the incredible burden that families are going through and we need to put every resource available to us on the table to support our students and parents,” said Superintendent Dr, Wade Smith.

The recent shift to the Red Stage due to a spike in COVID cases pushed all students to distance learning and directly impacted more than 100 students with Special Education who were receiving in-person instruction. Walla Walla Public Schools is developing a new Hotline to support students receiving Special Education services and students on 504 plans. The SpEd/504 Hotline will also be staffed 8 a.m. to 7 p.m, Monday-Friday and monitored on the weekends. The hotline goes live Monday.

- Special Education/504 Hotline: (509) 526-6770

“Our staff are excited to work with families and students to provide more support and services,” said Director of Special Education Libby Thompson. “We are in the relationship business and this new hotline will help us have a better understanding of our families’ needs and how we can best support them.”

PHOTO L-R: Special Education Department staff Diana Evenson, Elissa Tinder and Libby Thompson