Schools close, arrange food and learning for students

Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek school districts began school this week by planning for their closures, as mandated by the Minnesota Department of Education in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
School officials met Sunday and informed staff that Monday morning was the only day of classes until March 27.
Key personnel met Sunday night at Luverne Middle-High School.
“We are going to continue to educate and we’re going to remain calm,” said Luverne Superintendent Craig Oftedahl.
Medical professionals, city and county officials and key school personnel talked Sunday about how to proceed with the state-mandated school closures.
On Monday Luverne students met in regular classroom sessions, but at the end of the day they removed personal items from lockers and took home books and other materials for possible distance learning to begin March 30.
The mandate stipulates that school staff would spend Wednesday through March 27 devising plans for distance learning in case classes don’t resume March 30.
“The eight days are critical because of the possible (school) closure for six weeks or more,” Oftedahl said.
Luverne began planning Tuesday for distance learning that is defined as students “having full access to appropriate educational materials.”
Schools will also devise plans for child care for emergency service personnel if classes don’t resume March 30.
Personnel will also devise plans for delivery of meals to eligible students, providing instruction to students with extenuating learning circumstances, and cleaning and disinfecting of each of the school buildings.
 
Activities canceled by High School League
Also on Sunday, the Minnesota State High School League ordered all practices, scrimmages and contests canceled at area high schools. 
This includes sporting events as well as plays, speech contests and other activities through the MSHSL.
Spring activities could continue after April 6, pending the containment of the coronavirus.
 
Hills Christian School 
following state mandate
Teacher Kristi Van Dyken said staff at the private school was willing to continue with business as usual Monday but will follow the state’s mandate and close school Tuesday through March 27.
“We decided we were not going to be worked up over this,” Van Dyken said. “We have to be smart.”
Staff members are scheduled to meet next week to re-evaluate the coronavirus pandemic and how to proceed with the education of their 16 students.
Van Dyken said they are using the pandemic as a teaching moment for the Christian-based school. 
“God is in complete control of this,” she said. “That is our source of hope.”
 
State gives suggestions 
for distant learning options
Hills-Beaver Creek Superintendent Todd Holthaus said area school officials completed a conference call with public health officials of Rock and Pipestone counties Friday morning.
The group was briefed on the coronavirus information from the Center for Disease Control and Minnesota Department of Health.
“It was a good opportunity to bring — health care, education, elder care — to know where we are at,” he said. “We need to be calm, well planned … (because) items could change again in a moment’s notice.”
On Friday, state officials recommended that all Minnesota public schools remain in session and follow simple rules of washing hands, stay home if ill, and avoid large gatherings.
Meanwhile, schools in South Dakota were ordered closed Friday. Iowa has since followed suit.
H-BC issued a late start Monday morning for staff to discuss the state mandate and prepare students for the end of classes Monday. No classes were conducted Tuesday.