As we reported earlier today, King County Health and Seattle Schools officials were discussing reopening Stevens Elementary early following new guidance from experts regarding the H1N1 flu virus. Seattle Schools has announced that Stevens will be back in session Tuesday morning:

Public Health – Seattle & King County has revised its guidelines related to school closures related to the H1N1 virus.

Public health officials advised us that, because the flu virus appears to be mild, they will no longer recommend that schools close when there are just a few ‘probable’ or ‘confirmed’ cases of H1N1 at a school.

Based on this advice, on Tuesday, May 5 we will reopen the three schools that were closed last week. Classes at those three schools will begin 2 hours late so that staff can meet with public health experts to review how to monitor for flu symptoms and prepare for students’ arrival.

Aki Kurose Middle School will start at 10:00 a.m.
Madrona K-8 will start at 10:45 a.m.
Stevens Elementary will start at 11:15 a.m.