COVID Update-12/21/20
There have been numerous changes and updates since my last communication.
The RASD’s plan for the return to school buildings is as follows:
Monday, January 4th will be a teacher planning day to prepare for the learning model change. There will be no student (Pre K-12) instruction that day. Essential childcare will also not be available that day as these employees will be preparing for student return on Tuesday as well.
Pre K-6 students will return to the hybrid model (which for our district is all students everyday, but meeting the hybrid guidelines of distancing and pods) in their respective buildings on Tuesday, January 5th.
Grades 7-12 will remain in distance learning through Friday, January 8th. They would return to hybrid on Monday, January 11th.
We would like families that have had positive covid tests or are showing symptoms to continue to report these to the school nurse over the break, just like we were in session. This tracing upon return will help the school be able to stay open and establish a baseline for our return to school. Please report testing and symptom to health office at 507-644-8263
The parent option for distance learning continues as it did at the beginning of the year. If you are choosing full time distance learning and not to return to hybrid instruction, Jan. 8th would be the deadline to opt-out to full Distance Learning for the remainder of 2nd quarter and 3rd quarter. Please notify your building principal if you select this option.
The governor has announced new guidelines for reentry and additional mitigation efforts. These efforts are to keep our students in the building with the hope that we will not reenter the full distance learning model again this year. Because our plan was communicated prior to the Governor’s rollout, our district is able to continue with the plan we had communicated with our public and start to reopen on January 5th. The other changes are effective January 18th.
Please also note that the school calendar will be altered starting in February to comply with the executive order on teacher planning time. The district will have an early release for all students each Wednesday. Release time will be 1:15 at Pre K-4 and 1:30 for grades 5-12. The first date will be Wednesday, February 3 and it will be each Wednesday for the remainder of the year. More details on this will come in the next update.
I hope everyone has a safe and healthy holiday season. The district looks forward to welcoming our students back on January 5 (Pre K-6) and January 11 (7-12).
Happy Holidays,
Becky Cselovszki, Superintendent of Schools