In-Person Learning For K-2 At South Washington County School Begins On January 19, Grades 3-5 Two Weeks Later

Press release from South Washington County Schools:

December 22, 2020

South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo) is planning to bring our youngest students back to school for regular in-person learning in January. In-person learning is not the same as the hybrid learning model that alternated students between A and B days. In-person learning is where all students learn at school daily (five days a week) with social distancing in place as much as possible. The state guidelines allow the return of no more than three grade levels at one time in a two week period (no earlier than Jan. 18).

What This Means for Students and Families

• Elementary students in kindergarten through grade two will return to in-person learning on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
  • Grades 3-5 will remain in distance learning until Feb. 1
  • Note: Grades K-3 in the multiage program at Valley Crossing Elementary will return to in-person learning on Jan. 19
• Elementary students in grades 3-5 will return to in-person learning on Monday, Feb. 1.
  • Note: Grades 4-5 in the multiage program at Valley Crossing Elementary will return to in-person learning on Feb. 1
• Middle and high schools students will remain in distance learning at this time.
• Students who chose Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) for trimester two will remain in VLA.
• Pre-K students will remain in distance learning at this time. Look for more information from Community Education.
• Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) will continue in its current learning model.
• Students (K-12+) currently receiving special education services at school will continue to attend school in-person for intensive services. As grade levels move to in-person learning, students will transition to receive their special education services in-person during the regular school day.
• Essential care for critical workers will return to each elementary school site on Jan. 19, and will end for grade levels as they return to in-person learning.
• Kids Club before and after-school child care will return to school sites on Jan. 19.
• Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) will return to on-site classes on Jan. 25. Virtual classes will continue for those who registered.
• Families should have a plan in case their child’s classroom or school must transition back to distance learning due to potential COVID-19 exposures.
  • Essential care will not be offered under this scenario.

New and Required Safety Procedures

• The 14-day quarantine period will remain in place. If staff or students had close contact with an infected person, they will need to stay out of school for a minimum of 14 days.
• The Minnesota Department of Education requires a rolling start that introduces no more than three grade levels into a building in a two-week time period. For example, we may bring in grades K-2 in-person, then grades 3-5 two weeks later.
• Staff are now required to wear face masks and face shields at all times.
  • Accommodations are allowed when staff are serving students in settings where seeing a person’s lips is necessary.
• Student meal times may be held in the classroom if six feet of physical distancing between students cannot be accommodated in the cafeteria.
• Students and staff are required to wear face coverings for all indoor physical activity like indoor recess.
• Student support programs such as special education, English learners and counseling may continue to pull students from their primary classrooms in order to provide essential support services as long as six feet distance can be maintained.
  • Clear barriers may be supplied for specific educational settings to divide students from teachers (whenever possible).
• Arts, music and media classes that cannot operate in the classroom may continue to be held outside of individual classrooms if they are able to follow the health and safety measures.
• Any sick student who is sent to school, or is determined to be sick during the school day, will immediately be sent home.
  • Call your child’s school attendance line to report an absence.

Calendar and Schedule Updates

• Jan. 14-15 - No School (K-5): Staff planning days (No school for K-5 Virtual Learning Academy students)
• Jan. 15 - Last day of essential care for students (K-2)
• Jan. 18 - No School (ECSE, PreK-12): holiday
• Jan. 19 - Grades K-2 return to in-person learning
• Jan. 22 - No School (ECSE, PreK-12): staff planning day as previously scheduled
• Jan. 29 - Last day of essential care for students (3-5)
• Feb. 1 - Grades 3-5 return to in-person learning

Why Minnesota Revised its Original Guidance for Elementary Schools

Based on Minnesota’s evolving knowledge and understanding of the virus, the state determined that early learning programs and elementary schools do not need to adhere only to county data to determine learning models. The state shared that young children are less susceptible to serious complications from COVID-19. Additional staff safety procedures are also required, including saliva testing and face shields.

Thank You

As we transition to in-person learning, we will take a targeted approach to keep students in school. This means if a classroom had close contact with someone who was infected, the class would shift to distance learning during the 14-day quarantine period and the school would remain in session as usual. We ask that families be prepared for the possibility that their child’s class could move to distance learning at any time.

Every change to a different learning model requires staff and teacher planning days, management of logistics like school bus routing and school meals, and much more. I want to thank you for your patience and support. Our focus now, is to ensure students thrive at school through relationships, connections and social-emotional support.

This press release was produced by South Washington County Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.