As we plan for returning to school in 2020-21, we are busy working through the guidance from the state of Minnesota and Department of Education to create safe and meaningful plans for students to return to learning. As we clarify and determine details and create the best plan for our district, we are also awaiting a final decision and guidance from the Governor – due to come on Thursday, July 30.
Please consider the following frameworks to be *general* and a *work in progress* as we await those decisions. If we are permitted to make the decision locally, we are committed to implement Scenario #1 with safety measures in place for students and staff, with accommodations in place for families who request it.
Scenario #1 – Full In-person learning available for all students: Schools will promote and encourage physical distancing between students and staff. Necessary safety and cleaning precautions will be in place. This scenario may be implemented if COVID metrics are stabilized or improving as allowed by the Department of Health. *There will be a Distance Learning option for all families who request accommodations.
Scenario #2 – Hybrid learning plan with strict social distancing and capacity limits: In this plan, schools will limit the number of people in facilities, classrooms, and transportation to 50% occupancy, and six-feet social distancing must occur at all times. At this time, our facilities and classroom occupancy allows for K-6 students to attend school M-F, with strict distancing and cleaning procedures in place. In the MS/HS, 7th-8th grade and 9th-12th grade students would attend on-site for 2-3 days and distance learning the other days of the week. This scenario may be implemented if local COVID metrics worsen, or within a school if there are clusters of cases in a classroom or school as allowed by the Department of Health. *There will be a Distance Learning option for all families who request accommodations.
Scenario #3 – Distance Learning only: In this plan, we would implement a refined Distance Learning plan. There will be attendance and accountability expectations for staff, and students will be given access to appropriate educational materials and receive daily interaction with their licensed teacher(s). This scenario may be implemented if local COVID metrics worsen as allowed by the Department of Health.
The scenario allowed will be based on guidance from MN Departments of Health and Education, dependent on the current COVID metrics within the state and region. We may transition between scenarios at any point throughout the 2020-21 school year.