Our COVID Team at Win-E-Mac School has discussed the options from the Governor and we will remain with grades 5-12 in Distance Learning on January 4th through January 15th with more information communicated by that time. If your student is struggling, please call the District and we can make some arrangements. January 18th, 2021 is a staff development day with no students. Grades 5 and 6 will come back in person on the 19th, with hybrid learning for high school students to include Wednesdays on a new hybrid schedule. We do plan to bring all High School students back thereafter.
The Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 School Year has been updated, so starting on January 18, 2021, every elementary school across the state may choose to operate an in-person learning model without needing to consult their Regional Support Team, as long as they are able to implement all updated health and safety measures in the Safe Learning Plan. Middle and high schools will continue to use the original process for determining their learning models and must also implement additional health and safety measures if they are providing in-person or hybrid learning.
One new mitigation strategy being implemented, beginning January 4, 2021, is that all public schools providing
in-person or hybrid learning must offer on-site saliva testing to all staff who interact with students. This testing will be conducted every two weeks in Win-E-Mac (districts and charter schools will be designated a date within a two-week schedule). Staff includes teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, support staff, nutrition staff, bus drivers, and more. The State of Minnesota will provide training and saliva test kits so that schools can conduct this testing. Training and supplies will be available to nonpublic and tribal schools operating in-person or hybrid learning that wish to provide COVID-19 saliva testing to their staff as well.
Students will continue to wear masks, with Staff members adding a shield with the mask, provided by the state of Minnesota. Practice for sports will begin on January 4th with competition yet to be decided. Mr. Langemo will have more information sent out once decisions are made.
Below is the latest update with our school Quarantines.