Schools consider options amid pandemic

School officials are taking a short break before tackling plans for the 2020-21 school year amid uncertain pandemic precautions.
“We are taking about two weeks to just breathe and close out this school year,” Luverne Schools Superintendent Craig Oftedahl told board members at their June 25 meeting.
The Minnesota departments of education and health jointly released guidelines June 18 to assist districts in preparing three different possible plans for conducting school for the 2020-21 year.
The guidelines are about 100 pages in length. “It will be a huge undertaking,” Oftedahl said.
The three plans are
•in-person learning.
•distance learning.
•a hybrid plan with strict social distancing and capacity limits.
State officials will announce in late July which plan will be in place when area schools begin classes on Sept. 8.
During the school year, state officials will be able to call for schools to switch between plans if health concerns deem the change necessary.
“Plans need a seamless transition,” Oftedahl said. “If they tell us on Friday to do distance learning on Monday, we can roll right into that plan.”
 
Guidelines outline dozens of requirements
The in-person plan can’t be business as usual inside the school buildings.
The state’s 100-page guidebook outlines dozens of recommendations and requirements the school districts must meet.
“It is important that everyone in the school community take steps to reduce transmission, particularly to those at high risk, while balancing the need to maintain a strong education system that effectively supports staff, students and communities,” the MDH guidebook stated.
An in-person plan must outline ways for the school to make the following provisions:
•social distance and minimize exposure.
•protect vulnerable populations.
•enforce hygiene practices.
•clean and handle materials
•monitor illness.
•handle suspected or confirmed positive cases.
•monitor water and ventilation systems.
•arrange transportation.
•support mental health and wellness.
The hybrid plan follows the in-person guidelines but imposes further restrictions, such as a 50-percent capacity limit in school buildings and facilities and social distancing of 6 feet between people at all times.
Distance learning, which districts operated under the last two months of the 2019-20 school year, would mean school buildings are closed with instruction taking place between students and staff at home, primarily online.