Like many districts in Stearns County it is becoming difficult to keep our learning models intact. We are one of the few districts that still have our elementary in the hybrid model in our county. Most districts arrived at the point where they were no longer able to staff their elementary due to the growing numbers. This week our district shows an increase in our numbers where it may become difficult to staff our elementary in our current hybrid learning model.
Even with last week being a short week for schools, we were able to get the county and district data later in the week. The number this week is 242.13. There was a positive note in the data, the projection for next week shows this number decreasing for the first time in a couple of months. However, remember the data is two weeks behind. We don’t know at this time what the impact of Thanksgiving gatherings will have on this number.
One very important item we would like to remind all parents of at this time. Please do not send your child(ren) to school if they are sick. We know it can be extremely difficult to do this during this time period with many parents working. I cannot overstate the obvious too much in this statement, sending students to school that are sick does not help our situation.
Our next step to try to keep the elementary in the current hybrid model is to go to a C-Day in the elementary school. This will look similar to what the middle school and high school have been doing since the beginning of the year. Elementary students will stay home on Friday and receive some distance learning information in the morning followed by supplemental help for students that need additional interventions. Elementary teachers will then have additional collaboration time in the afternoon. This additional time is also required under the latest governor's executive order.
Although we are getting close to changing our learning model in the elementary, we will stay with the hybrid learning model in the elementary and distance learning in the middle and high school. If we decide to switch to distance learning in the elementary we will try to give a weeks notice with a day off at the elementary, middle and high school to facilitate the transition.
One quick reminder, if you do not have our school app on your mobile device please download the app. It is a free app. This is our best way to communicate with you if there is any type of school closing due to the weather or other emergency situations. Go to your app store whether it is an Apple or Android phone and search for Melrose Area Public Schools, Minnesota. Make sure to use Minnesota since we know there is another Melrose school district in another state. Once you download the app make sure to adjust your notifications on your settings to receive push notifications.
If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact me or any of the building principals.
Greg Winter, Superintendent: gwinter@isd740.org
Chad Doetkott, High School Principal cdoetkott@isd740.org
Robert Anderson, Middle School Principal randerson@isd740.org
Terryl Pearson, Elementary School Principal tpearson@isd740.org