Throughout the last two months, schools across the state have been creating a plan for the 2020-21 school year that involved three possible models: in-person, distance learning and hybrid. What model a school could choose to start the school year is determined by a county's number of COVID-19 cases per 10,000 over a two-week period. Schools can even look at more localized numbers by zip codes in helping them determine what model is best for their students, especially in larger counties like St. Louis.
No matter what the 14-day case rate is locally, schools and their boards can always choose a more cautious approach. All districts are required to offer a distance learning program for students whose parents don’t feel comfortable sending their children to school.
Here are the plans for the start of the school year from districts around the region.
St. Louis County
Chisholm School District will begin its school year with in-person learning for all. The district is creating as much space as possible between students and teachers that is feasible during the day. The district will also be screening students driving themselves, walking or being dropped off as well as staff and visitors by visually checking for signs of illness as well as doing temperature checks.
If there is a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case during school hours, the person will be separated and held in the isolation room within the nurse’s office until they are able to be picked up by a parent or guardian. Cleaning of every place that person was present would be done by the custodial staff.
Duluth Edison Charter Schools will begin its school year in a hybrid model. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade will attend school four days a week — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday — and students in sixth through eighth grades will attend in-person on Wednesday.
Duluth Public Schools will begin the school year with two weeks of distance learning so students, parents and teachers can familiarize themselves with the new online learning programs, SeeSaw and Canvas. After that, middle and high school students will continue distance learning for at least the first quarter. Elementary students will begin a hybrid model where they attend school twice a week, either Monday-Tuesday or Thursday-Friday.
Students who need a device to use at home for distance learning will be provided one by the school. The district is also currently working to secure hotspots for families without internet access.
East Range Academy of Technology and Science is starting the school year in hybrid learning where students will attend in-person learning two days a week. Packets containing required forms and virtual orientation information were mailed to all families.
Ely Public Schools will be starting the school year in person. Students will arrive as usual, but are asked to proceed directly to their first class and desk. Teachers will conduct visual inspections of students for signs of illness and use non-contact thermometers to conduct temperature screening.
If there is a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 during school, the person will be isolated until they are able to be picked up. Cleaning procedures will implemented to ensure spaces that have been used are sanitized.
If a single, standalone confirmed case occurs, it is possible that the affected classrooms may be temporarily shifted to distance learning. If the number of students and school staff who are absent or who are sent home with influenza or COVID-19 symptoms reaches 5% within a single week, the transition to distance learning may take place.
Floodwood School District will start the year with in-person learning. The district will also screen students and staff by visually inspecting the person for signs of illness as well as conducting temperature screenings using a non-contact thermometer.
If there is a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in the school, the person will be separated and held in the isolation room until they are able to be picked up and cleaning procedures will be in place.
Harbor City International Charter School is starting the school year distance learning. The school will provide a device for every student and the distance learning program is expected to be significantly different from that implemented in the spring.
The school is hoping to allow students to come to campus in a safe and limited manner on a voluntary basis for in-person support. The distance learning model will allow students to manage fewer classes per grading period and engage more deeply in each class. The school will return to using a standard grading scale, A-F, for the 2020-21 school year.
Hermantown Community Schools custodian Sam Rodman wipes down cabinet handles with disinfectant Thursday, Aug. 27. (Adelle Whitefoot / awhitefoot@duluthnews.com)
Hermantown Community Schools will be starting the school year in hybrid for all students, though a special meeting of the Hermantown School Board has been scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. Under the hybrid model, all students will distance learn on Mondays and attend in-person classes either Tuesdays and Thursdays or Wednesdays and Fridays. When a student is not attending class in person, they will be distance learning.
High school students will still shift among classrooms, but will be encouraged to carry backpacks between classes to eliminate locker congestion. Lockers will only be available upon request.
Hibbing Public Schools will start the school year with in-person learning. Screeners will visually inspect students for signs of illness as well as conduct temperature screenings using non-contact thermometers.
In this model, high school passing times will be staggered to prevent hallway congestion and lockers will not be utilized. High school desks will be cleaned between classes by teachers and students.
If there is a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 during school, the person will be isolated until they are able to be picked up and cleaning procedures will be in place.
If a single, standalone confirmed case occurs, it is possible that the affected classrooms may be temporarily shifted to distance learning. If the number of students and school staff who are absent or who are sent home with influenza or COVID-19 typical symptoms reaches 5% within a single week, the transition to distance learning may take place.
Mesabi East Schools will be starting the school year with elementary students utilizing in-person learning and high school students utilizing the hybrid model. The first day of class for all students will be Sept. 14. From Sept. 8-11, parent/student/teacher conferences and an introduction to the hybrid learning model will be conducted. School staff will be calling each family to go over the district’s COVID-19 plan and answer any questions that families may have regarding the start of the school year.
In the hybrid model, high school students will attend in-person classes twice a week with all students distance learning on Wednesdays. Wednesdays will be used to clean and sanitize between groups. This model will be used for at least nine weeks, after which full in-person learning may be considered.
Mountain Iron-Buhl School District will be starting the school year in-person. If there is a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case during school hours, the person will be separated and held in the isolation room until they are able to be picked up by a parent or guardian. Cleaning of every place that person was present will be done by the custodial staff.
Students are encouraged to carry two face coverings or shields with them during the school day. The district will provide students without masks with one.
Nett Lake School District will begin the school year in-person. School will start Sept. 8 and other models will be utilized throughout the year as required. Nett Lake has small class sizes and a new ventilation system to help support in-person classes.
North Shore Community School will start the school year in hybrid learning. All students will attend distance learning from Sept. 9-11, with in-person learning beginning Sept. 14 for Group AA and beginning Sept. 17 for Group BB. All students will attend school twice a week with Wednesdays used as distance learning for all.
All commonly used spaces will be cleaned three to four times throughout the day. Hallway travel will be minimized and outdoor spaces will be used as much as possible.
Proctor Public Schools will start the school year Sept. 15 in hybrid mode for elementary students and distance learning hybrid for students sixth through 12th grade. Elementary students will attend on a rotating A/B schedule Tuesday through Friday. Monday will be distance learning for all students. Lunch schedules will be staggered for one grade level at a time and recess will be scheduled at various times throughout the day for one grade level at a time.
Secondary students will have in-person learning opportunities by appointment on a A/B schedule. Students in career and technical education classes will be allowed to attend those classes during their A/B schedule.
Rock Ridge Public Schools will be starting school in person with the flexibility to switch between learning models as required based on local COVID-19 cases. Students will be given mask breaks when property distances and class will be conducted outside as much as possible.
Students in seventh through 12th grade will have four 89-minute classes each day to reduce cross-contamination. Locker use will be limited and students must contact the office to request a locker. All others are encouraged to use a backpack that can be carried from class to class.
Rock Ridge Public Schools is the recently combined district of Eveleth-Gilbert and Virginia districts.
St. Louis County School District will be starting in-person at all buildings: South Ridge School, Cherry School, Northeast Range School, North Woods School and Tower-Soudan Elementary School. Superintendent Reggie Engebritson said decisions switching between models will be made at the building level based on the school’s local COVID-19 cases.
Lunch schedules will be staggered as well as recess for elementary school students. Secondary school students will have seven-period days, with instruction being based on an A/B day schedule to accommodate in-school and distance learners.
Vermilion Country School will be starting the school year in-person. All students and staff will have temperature checks before entering vans and buses or the building. Students and staff will need to wear masks while in the building.
Lake County
Lake Superior School District will be starting the school year with hybrid learning for all students in Two Harbors, hybrid learning for seventh through 12th grade in Silver Bay and in-person learning for kindergarten through sixth grade in Silver Bay.
Two Harbors students will attend school Monday through Thursday either in the morning or afternoon. William Kelley School students in grades seventh and 12th will attend in-person school twice a week, with 75-minute classes and dismissal at 2:30 p.m.
Cook County
Birch Grove Community School will start the school year with hybrid learning for all Monday through Thursday and attend distance learning on Fridays. Students will have to bring a cold lunch and water bottle each day to school. Food items will be available should a student forget a lunch and microwaves will be placed in all classrooms so that students can heat their lunch if needed. Families who have difficulties sending lunch to school are asked to contact the school.
Cook County Public Schools will start the school year with distance learning. Though Cook County has had very few COVID-19 cases since March, the Cook County School Board decided to start with the most restrictive model in the Northland. Elementary school students will receive a tablet and secondary school students will receive a Chromebook.
The district will provide essential care for children of Tier 1 and Tier 2 essential workers at the schools. The district is also forming an Incident Command Team that will help the district make further decisions about shifting to another model of education.
Lastly, the model of education will be evaluated at the mid-quarter mark Oct. 5. Parents and students can expect to learn by then whether distance learning will continue or if it will shift to a different model.
Oshki Ogimaag Charter School will start the school year with in-person learning. Students will primarily stay in their own classrooms and will have their own supplies at their desk or cubby area. Temperature screening of students and staff will be conducted as they enter the building and hand sanitizer will be utilized before entering the building.
"start" - Google News
August 30, 2020 at 02:00AM
https://ift.tt/3jnIGlJ
Schools prepare to start new year during pandemic - Duluth News Tribune
"start" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2yVRai7
https://ift.tt/2WhNuz0
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Schools prepare to start new year during pandemic - Duluth News Tribune"
Post a Comment