Secondary Hybrid, In-Person Learning

• Only students with documented medical conditions and/or IEP team determined cognitive or behavioral health concerns will be allowed to not wear a mask.
• Masks are required in school and on buses for all who wish to attend school in person.
• New state mitigation strategy:  The state and district strongly recommend face masks and face shields be worn together by school staff at all times.

Safety guidelines will be followed, as outlined in the Stay Safe MN 2020-2021 Planning Guide for Schools:

• Check your child for fever and symptoms or have them self-check before heading to the bus stop. 
• Students must not board the bus if they have a fever or are experiencing symptoms of COVID.
• Students who become ill during the school day will need to find alternate transportation home.
• Make sure your child has their face covering.  Per the Governor’s executive order, all students over the age of 5 years and staff will be required to wear cloth face coverings on the bus and in school, (unless medically exempt).  
• Help your child understand how to keep six feet away from others at the bus stop.
• School buses must create a 6 foot distance between the driver and students.
• Assigned seats will be implemented based on routes and capacities.
• Students will exit the bus from front to back.

In addition:

• Staff will clean and disinfect transportation vehicles regularly, focusing on frequent cleaning of touched surfaces in the vehicle.
• Staff will keep doors and windows open when cleaning the vehicle and between trips to let the vehicles thoroughly air out.

• Look for specific information from your school about family drop off procedures and where your child should go once they're dropped off.
• For safety reasons, schools are limiting access to visitors during the pandemic. Please do not exit your vehicle or enter the school building during drop off.

• New state mitigation strategy: all public schools providing in-person or hybrid learning must offer on-site COVID testing to all staff that interact with students. The state said provides training and saliva test kits so that schools can conduct this testing.
• Ensure ventilation systems operate properly and increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible. 
• All District buildings are heated and ventilated in accordance with, or exceed, any and all applicable Minnesota Mechanical Code.  Applicable Minnesota Mechanical Code is based upon ASHRAE standards.  (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers).
• Schools strive for six feet of distance wherever possible with a minimum of three feet separation. 
• Staff spacing will be at least 6 feet from students. 
• Hand sanitizing stations throughout each building and in each classroom.
• Water fountains are not available for use during the pandemic.  
• Limit mixing between groups as much as possible. 
• If staff observe a student experiencing symptoms, the student will be moved to an isolation area for assessment and if needed parents will be notified to pick up their child.
• Hallway floors are marked with arrows. In general, students should stay to the right while walking down hallways.

• New state mitigation strategy: It's strongly recommended that face masks and face shields be worn together by school staff at all times
• New state mitigation strategy: When educators cannot be six feet from students (small group and individual instruction), when possible add a clear barrier between the adult and student.
• Each classroom has cleaning supplies for use throughout the day.
• Classrooms are set up so students have space between each other to work.

• Meal service details have been shared by each school.

MDH and CDC recommend routine cleaning and disinfection occur to assist in prevention of the virus spread.

• Two times daily cleaning of high touch surfaces. ISD 709 uses Oxivir wipes which have a 1-minute kill time.
• Two times daily cleaning of common areas including bathrooms, cafeterias, and gyms.
• Cleaning kits provided in every classroom to address daily needs by classroom staff.
• Thorough disinfecting of building spaces on a nightly basis as outlined by the CDC and MDH.
• Employees and students are asked to help by wiping/cleaning their personal workspaces and electronics at least once each day.

 Schools must report all confirmed cases of COVID-19 to the MN Department of Health (MDH) or their local public health agency.  It's important that all families report lab-confirmed COVID cases to their school.

• MDH or the local public health agency conduct a case investigation and identify anyone who potentially has been exposed to the confirmed case.
• MDH or the local public health agency notifies those who have been exposed and provides them with information about how to protect themselves, their families and their communities.
• Schools are asked to assist in the notification process of all close contacts.
• Schools make sure they're following HIPAA/FERPA data privacy laws.

This decision tool applies to children, students, or staff members who are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19.  It comes from the MN Department of Health.

Symptoms consistent with COVID-19 fall into two groups:

• More common symptoms are one or more of these: fever of 100.4℉ or higher, new onset and/or worsening cough, difficulty breathing, and new loss of taste or smell.
• Less common symptoms are two or more of these: sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, muscle pain, excessive fatigue, new onset of severe headache, and new onset of nasal congestion or runny nose

View the MN DOH Decision Tool