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Schools watch case numbers for direction

Subhead
Districts advised to decide in-person learning based on rate of coronavirus increase in county
Lead Summary
By
Mavis Fodness

In a special meeting Wednesday, Aug. 5, Luverne School Board members reviewed possible learning models for the opening of the 2020-21 school year.
Superintendent Craig Oftedahl recommended waiting until the state-mandated deadline of Aug. 24 before announcing which of the four plans the district will operate under when classes begin Sept. 8.
Parents and students were notified Friday, July 31, a day after the state released guidelines for schools to safely operate under as Minnesota’s COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise.
“That model districts begin the school year with is intended to be driven by county level COVID-19 case data,” Oftedahl wrote. “The data is collected every week and contains case data based on data for two-week periods.”
A formula, based on the state Department of Health numbers, helps guide district administrators in selecting the best learning model at different case levels and when a district can or should change to a different model.
Learning models include the state’s three recommended options plus a fourth locally developed option.
“A local incident command team is responsible for considering all factors including case data before recommending a model for (education) delivery,” Oftedahl explained.
The four learning models are:
1.) In-person learning (five-days a week).
2.) Hybrid learning (combination of in-person and distance learning).
3.) Distance learning (all students learning from home, similar to what occurred last spring.)
4.) Online Academy (a learning option for Luverne students if Luverne returns to five-days-a-week in-person learning.)
“The district is aware that parents and families are looking for specific information as soon as possible,” Oftedahl wrote.
“As we plan, we value input from our stakeholders.”
Comments concerning the state of school can be e-mailed to covidinfo@isd2184.net.
 
Current 14-day data puts Rock County at 18.06
Under Gov. Tim Walz’s Safe Learning Plan, a school district could fully reopen if its county had fewer than nine new cases of the virus per 10,000 residents reported over the latest 14-day period.
As of July 18, the 14-day COVID-19 case rate for Rock County was 18.06, up from 8.50 cases from the previous 14-day period.
The case rate determines which learning model would be used:
•0-9 cases, in-person learning for all students.
•10-19 cases, in-person learning for elementary students; hybrid learning for secondary students.
•20-29 cases, hybrid learning for all students.
•30-49 cases, hybrid learning for elementary students; distance learning for secondary students.
•50-plus cases, distance learning for all students.
However, prior to Aug. 24 (the latest date for determining the learning model for opening the school year), case numbers could change.
“Families can help limit the number of COVID-19 cases in Rock County by following CDC (Center for Disease Control) and state guidelines,” Oftedahl wrote.
Guidelines include:
•Maintaining social distancing when possible.
•Staying at home when sick.
•Being aware of COVID-19 symptoms and signs.
•Wearing a mask when in public places.
•Practicing good hygiene including hand-washing.
Counties surrounding Rock County have some of the highest case rates in the state based on the July 18 data: Pipestone (70.77), Murray (53.87) and Nobles (20.15).
 
Districts must follow stringent rules
In Gov. Walz’s Safe Learning Plan, districts must follow health requirements and best practices in order to conduct in-person and hybrid learning for students and staff inside school buildings.
“While some are eager to get back in the classroom, others have very real concerns about health and safety,” Walz said.
“That’s why the Safe Learning Plan sets the guidelines for how safely a school can reopen, based on regional data and the expertise of public health leaders and local administrators, while still allowing families, teachers and staff to make the decision to stay home.”
These guidelines for in-person and hybrid learning in schools include:
•A masking policy.
•Personal protection equipment for direct support student services.
•Hygiene education and practices.
•Daily cleaning and frequent cleaning of high touch surfaces throughout the day.
•Building level COVID-19 program coordinator with optional student counterpart.
•Limiting nonessential visitors, volunteers or external groups.
•Discontinuing large gatherings that do not allow for social distancing.
•Social distancing at all times in school buildings.
•School facilities at 50 percent capacity.
•Transportation at 50 percent capacity.
•Sufficient staffing levels to meet the requirements of the hybrid model.
Each district would receive face coverings for every student, educator and staff along with additional money to cover the added operational costs of cleaning supplies, transportation, technology and Wi-Fi access.
Additional financial support would also be given for deploying a comprehensive COVID testing plan and to boost student, family and educator support through additional mental health support and professional development.

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