The 2019-2020 school year was unprecedented. With the onset and rapid spread of COVID-19, we found ourselves moving to an online model of teaching. While our staff and families were flexible and made the best of the situation, there is no question that it was less than ideal. As we move into the beginning of the new school year, there are still many unknowns and uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus. On July 30, 2020, the state of Minnesota released the “Safe Learning Plan for 2020-2021.” We will be following this plan as it applies to our school situation. This document laid out a process for determining whether schools will be able to meet in-person, use a hybrid in-person/online model, or meet fully online. This document provides our plan for deciding the proper learning model and how this will be implemented.
Please note that this will be an organic plan. We will be closely monitoring the situation, adjusting and modifying the plan as things change or as new information becomes available.
Plan Goals:
Determining a Safe Learning Model
Our school will be consulting with the Minnesota Conference of SDA Education Department (hereafter referred to as Conference Education Department), our local school district, and local health department as we determine a safe learning model. Which learning model we are using may change as the numbers in our county change. The three potential learning models are described below:
Scenario 1: In-person learning for all students. In this planning scenario, schools should create as much space between students and teachers as is feasible during the day, but will not be held strictly to enforcing 6 feet of social distancing during primary instructional time in the classroom. Activities and extracurricular programming should continue to follow the COVID-19 Prevention Guidance for Youth, Student, and Child Care Programs. This scenario may be implemented if state COVID-19 metrics continue to stabilize and/or improve. (Safe Learning Plan, page 9) The Northwoods school board has voted to hire an additional teacher for the 2020-2021 school year. This will allow more social distancing in each classroom. In addition the school day will be modified to begin at 8:00 A.M each day and dismiss at 2:00 P.M.
Northwoods will require contactless student drop off and pick up of students. Parents will not be allowed inside the school building unless it is an emergency, or requested by the teacher. Parents are encouraged to communicate with teachers outside of school hours unless absolutely necessary.
Drop off procedure:
Pick up procedure:
Scenario 2: Hybrid model with strict social distancing and capacity limits. In this planning scenario, schools must limit the overall number of people in school facilities to 50% maximum occupancy. Sufficient social distancing with at least 6 feet between people must occur at all times. If distancing cannot be achieved in a space, the number of occupants must be reduced. Schools must also limit the overall number of people on transportation vehicles to 50% maximum occupancy. Schools must include plans for contactless pick-up and/or delivery of school materials for days that students and staff are not in the school building. This scenario may be implemented if COVID-19 metrics worsen at the local, regional, or statewide level. Scenario 2 may also be implemented within a school if they experience clusters of cases within a classroom or the school. (Safe Learning Plan, page 10) In the hybrid model class size will be divided by grade and students will attend either in the morning or in the afternoon. Students in the morning will attend class from 8:00 to 11:00 A.M. Students in the afternoon will attend classes from 12:00 to 3:00 P.M. The current plan would be for students in Grades PreK, 1,3,5,8 to attend classes in the morning and grades K,2,4,6,7 in the afternoon. This grade arrangement is subject to change.
Scenario 3: Distance learning only. This scenario may be implemented if local, regional, or statewide COVID-19 metrics worsen significantly enough to require the suspension of in-person learning. (Safe Learning Plan, page 10). Teachers will utilize Zoom or LifeSize for online instruction. School computers and devices may be loaned to families in need of devices. Students will utilize current textbooks and submit completed assignments online or in some cases drop off assignments using outside storage bins.
(Safe Learning Plan, page 5)
Number of cases per 10,000 over 14 days, by county of residence
Learning Model
0-9
In person learning for all students
10-19
In-person learning for all students
20-29
Hybrid learning for all students
30-49
Hybrid learning for all students
50+
Distance learning for all students
(Adapted from Safe Learning Plan, page 6)
(Safe Learning Plan, page 7)
COVID-19 Program Coordinator
Jamie Madden – Program coordinator – 763-226-9283 (jamiepmadden@yahoo.com)
Dixie Fly – Member – 320-296-6311 (dmfly79@yahoo.com)
Anjuli Mayer – Member – 320-296-9946 (akaldahl@hotmail.com)
Tiffany Trana – Member – 320-223-8181 (tiffany.trana@gmail.com)
Kari Schebo – Member – 937-751-3497 (kaschebo@yahoo.com)
MN Department Health Disease Control – 651-201-5414
McLeod County Public Health – Jennifer Smith – 320-864-1372 (www.co.mcleod.mn.us)
Antonia Barrick – ISD 423 District Nurse – antonia.barrick@isd423.org
Social Distancing and Minimizing Exposure
Cleaning and Materials Handling
Monitoring and Excluding for Illness
Handling Suspected or Confirmed Positive Case of COVID-19
The whole school will move immediately to online learning if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID 19 due to the high interconnectivity between grades, staff and family connections.
After 14 days without incident, any new positive test, or new symptoms Northwoods will resume in person instruction.
Online Learning Option
Assignments will be sent home electronically. Students will connect during instructional time. The teacher will keep a laptop on the table when working with small groups or have it sitting at a desk when doing whole class instruction. Digital learning tools, such as MobiMax, Spelling City, Big Ideas, etc., will be utilized.
Field trips
No field trips will be taken first quarter. This will be reassessed by Northwoods staff as the year progresses.
Transportation
All transportation will be provided by parents
Volunteers
Guests on Campus
Guests will not be allowed on campus without prior approval.
References:
Stay Safe MN 2020-2021 Planning Guide for schools
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/k12planguide.pdf
Stay Safe MN Safe Learning Plan for 2020-2021: A Localized, Data-Driven Approach
https://mn.gov/covid19/assets/safe-learning-plan_tcm1148-442202.pdf
Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 School Year Website
https://mn.gov/covid19/for-minnesotans/safe-learning-plan/overview.jsp
Please note that this will be an organic plan. We will be closely monitoring the situation, adjusting and modifying the plan as things change or as new information becomes available.
Plan Goals:
- Prioritize the safety of students and staff
- Prioritize in-person learning, especially for younger learners
- Consider infectiousness and transmission risk among different ages
- Support planning, while permitting flexibility for the school
- Take into account disease prevalence at a local level (Safe Learning Plan, page 1)
Determining a Safe Learning Model
Our school will be consulting with the Minnesota Conference of SDA Education Department (hereafter referred to as Conference Education Department), our local school district, and local health department as we determine a safe learning model. Which learning model we are using may change as the numbers in our county change. The three potential learning models are described below:
Scenario 1: In-person learning for all students. In this planning scenario, schools should create as much space between students and teachers as is feasible during the day, but will not be held strictly to enforcing 6 feet of social distancing during primary instructional time in the classroom. Activities and extracurricular programming should continue to follow the COVID-19 Prevention Guidance for Youth, Student, and Child Care Programs. This scenario may be implemented if state COVID-19 metrics continue to stabilize and/or improve. (Safe Learning Plan, page 9) The Northwoods school board has voted to hire an additional teacher for the 2020-2021 school year. This will allow more social distancing in each classroom. In addition the school day will be modified to begin at 8:00 A.M each day and dismiss at 2:00 P.M.
Northwoods will require contactless student drop off and pick up of students. Parents will not be allowed inside the school building unless it is an emergency, or requested by the teacher. Parents are encouraged to communicate with teachers outside of school hours unless absolutely necessary.
Drop off procedure:
- Stay in line drop-off: Parents should form a single file line in the roundabout to drop students off (No double parking will be allowed). Any parents wishing to walk students to the door must use the parking lot. Students should be masked when they enter the building.
Pick up procedure:
- Stay in line pick-up: Parents should form a single file line (No double parking). Students will be dismissed by families. Teachers will communicate via walkie talkie to expedite the process. PreK students will be dismissed by the teacher or teacher’s aid at the front door when parents arrive.
Scenario 2: Hybrid model with strict social distancing and capacity limits. In this planning scenario, schools must limit the overall number of people in school facilities to 50% maximum occupancy. Sufficient social distancing with at least 6 feet between people must occur at all times. If distancing cannot be achieved in a space, the number of occupants must be reduced. Schools must also limit the overall number of people on transportation vehicles to 50% maximum occupancy. Schools must include plans for contactless pick-up and/or delivery of school materials for days that students and staff are not in the school building. This scenario may be implemented if COVID-19 metrics worsen at the local, regional, or statewide level. Scenario 2 may also be implemented within a school if they experience clusters of cases within a classroom or the school. (Safe Learning Plan, page 10) In the hybrid model class size will be divided by grade and students will attend either in the morning or in the afternoon. Students in the morning will attend class from 8:00 to 11:00 A.M. Students in the afternoon will attend classes from 12:00 to 3:00 P.M. The current plan would be for students in Grades PreK, 1,3,5,8 to attend classes in the morning and grades K,2,4,6,7 in the afternoon. This grade arrangement is subject to change.
Scenario 3: Distance learning only. This scenario may be implemented if local, regional, or statewide COVID-19 metrics worsen significantly enough to require the suspension of in-person learning. (Safe Learning Plan, page 10). Teachers will utilize Zoom or LifeSize for online instruction. School computers and devices may be loaned to families in need of devices. Students will utilize current textbooks and submit completed assignments online or in some cases drop off assignments using outside storage bins.
(Safe Learning Plan, page 5)
Number of cases per 10,000 over 14 days, by county of residence
Learning Model
0-9
In person learning for all students
10-19
In-person learning for all students
20-29
Hybrid learning for all students
30-49
Hybrid learning for all students
50+
Distance learning for all students
(Adapted from Safe Learning Plan, page 6)
(Safe Learning Plan, page 7)
COVID-19 Program Coordinator
Jamie Madden – Program coordinator – 763-226-9283 (jamiepmadden@yahoo.com)
Dixie Fly – Member – 320-296-6311 (dmfly79@yahoo.com)
Anjuli Mayer – Member – 320-296-9946 (akaldahl@hotmail.com)
Tiffany Trana – Member – 320-223-8181 (tiffany.trana@gmail.com)
Kari Schebo – Member – 937-751-3497 (kaschebo@yahoo.com)
MN Department Health Disease Control – 651-201-5414
McLeod County Public Health – Jennifer Smith – 320-864-1372 (www.co.mcleod.mn.us)
Antonia Barrick – ISD 423 District Nurse – antonia.barrick@isd423.org
Social Distancing and Minimizing Exposure
- 1)Social distancing will be maintained as much as possible by creating an additional classroom for students in grades 5-6.
- 2) Student activities will remain in the classroom to minimize cross contamination
- 3) Lunch break will take place in the classroom. Students should bring lunches that will not require heating or refrigeration.
- 4) Students should bring their own water bottles to schools.
- 5) Classrooms will stagger recess breaks.
- 6) The possibility of plexiglass dividers is being investigated
- Masking Policy
- Parents will provide students with 2-3 spare masks to be kept at school
- Disposable masks will be provided for students that forget or misplace them
- Hand sanitizer stations will be provided at each classroom entrance
- Students will have their own hand sanitizer at each desk
- Frequent, routine hand washing will be implemented upon arrival, before and after mealtimes, after restroom usage, and as needed
- Students, teachers, staff will perform sanitizing of high frequency touch areas, ie., counter tops, door knobs at least twice daily
- Drinking fountains will not be used this school year. Students should bring their own water bottles. They may be filled at the sink
- As much as possible students will have their own classroom supplies and books at their desks
- Students will be required to wash or sanitize their hands before and after recess
Cleaning and Materials Handling
- All doors, handles, light switches, tables and desks will be wiped down with disinfectant wipes or sprays daily
- Playground equipment will be sprayed with disinfectant daily
- All bathrooms will be disinfected daily
- Cleaning materials are stored in a locked cabinet in the Utility Room
Monitoring and Excluding for Illness
- Students, staff and volunteers will have their temperature checked on arrival to school. A temperature of above 100.4 will require students/staff to be be sent home. In addition teachers have full discretion on sending any child home that exhibits unusual symptoms. Students that are sick at school will stay in the office until a parent or emergency contact is able to pick them up.
- Parents need to be monitoring student health daily. Students should stay home if they present with any of the following symptoms:
- Fever and or chills
- Cough or troubles breathing
- Sore throat
- Loss of taste or smell
- Have you been around anyone who has Covid-19 or exhibits Covid symptoms
- Parents are required to be available to pick-up their child or provide an emergency contact that can pick up their child at any time during the school day.
- Any student, staff or volunteer upon exhibiting symptons will utilize distance learning until being cleared of such symptoms.
- Students will enter and exit the building by the following doors
- Pre-K/Kindergarten – Front door
- Grades 1-2 – Classroom outside door
- Grades 3-4 – Back Door
- Grades 5-6 – Front Door
- Grades 7-8 - Front Door
- Students will use hand sanitizer or wash their hands immediately on entering the classroom.
Handling Suspected or Confirmed Positive Case of COVID-19
The whole school will move immediately to online learning if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID 19 due to the high interconnectivity between grades, staff and family connections.
After 14 days without incident, any new positive test, or new symptoms Northwoods will resume in person instruction.
Online Learning Option
Assignments will be sent home electronically. Students will connect during instructional time. The teacher will keep a laptop on the table when working with small groups or have it sitting at a desk when doing whole class instruction. Digital learning tools, such as MobiMax, Spelling City, Big Ideas, etc., will be utilized.
Field trips
No field trips will be taken first quarter. This will be reassessed by Northwoods staff as the year progresses.
Transportation
All transportation will be provided by parents
Volunteers
- All volunteers will be required to do a temperature check
- Volunteers will follow a planned schedule
- Volunteers are required to wear a mask
- No more than one volunteer will be allowed in a classroom at a time
Guests on Campus
Guests will not be allowed on campus without prior approval.
References:
Stay Safe MN 2020-2021 Planning Guide for schools
https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/coronavirus/schools/k12planguide.pdf
Stay Safe MN Safe Learning Plan for 2020-2021: A Localized, Data-Driven Approach
https://mn.gov/covid19/assets/safe-learning-plan_tcm1148-442202.pdf
Safe Learning Plan for the 2020-21 School Year Website
https://mn.gov/covid19/for-minnesotans/safe-learning-plan/overview.jsp