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Remote learning options won’t be quickly available to Bainbridge Island students because restrictions on group meetings is hampering the Bainbridge Island School District’s ability to plan for online educational activities.

Bainbridge District Superintendent Peter Bang-Knudsen announced that schools would be closed through April 24, at least, following Governor Jay Inslee’s proclamation late last week that closed all K-12 schools in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, as well as Bainbridge Island. The school closure was later expanded to include the entire state.

After Inslee’s warning Monday against large group gatherings, Bainbridge school officials said they were having trouble planning off-site learning opportunities for students who were being kept out of class.

“Because of the new limits, BISD needs to slow down the remote educational resource opportunities we were going to offer because we are unable to come together and prepare like we originally planned,” Bang-Knudsen announced on the district’s website late Monday.

“Instead, teachers will reach out to families with some optional educational activities to keep students engaged. The type of activities will likely vary by grade levels and by teachers.

“Students are not required to complete these tasks, as not all students have access to devices or the internet at this time,” Bang-Knudsen added.

Bang-Knudsen also said that enhanced social distancing needed to stem the spread of COVID-19 has left the Bainbridge district “unable to distribute Chromebooks to students in grades 6 and below as we initially planned.”

The distribution of Chromebooks will be reevaluated at the end of the month, he added.

In another switch due to changing circumstances caused by the coronavirus outbreak, students and their parents will not be able to visit schools and pick up items students left behind when schools were ordered closed, including personal belongings, Chromebooks, and music instruments.

“Due to enhanced social distancing measures put in place at the state-level, we are unable to allow students or parents access to our buildings at this time,” Bang-Knudsen said in Monday’s announcement.

He also noted that the school district has been unable to clean and sanitize its playgrounds and sports fields, and that the public can use those facilities at their own risk.