December 23rd Update

Dear Families,

Last Wednesday, Governor Walz announced plans to establish a path back to in-person learning for school districts. They are calling this model a "rolling start process." We are happy to tell our families that beginning on Tuesday, January 19th, we will bring back grades PK-2 and grades 6-8 to in-person learning. The governor's plan calls for multiple grade levels at a time to return to school in two-week increments.

Our tentative plan would look like this...

Elementary:
January 19 - 29 = Grades PK-2
February 1-12 = Grades PK-5

Middle/High School: (4 in-person-days per week in the beginning, with Wednesday being distance learning)
January 19 - 29 = grades *6-8
February 1 - 12 = grades 7-11
February 15 = grades 7-12

* 6th grade classrooms are located in the High School, therefore they are inlcuded in the high school grade bands.

Even though we are able to return to some in-person learning, our COVID-19 issues are far from behind us. When students are at school we will still have safety plans in place including, all students wearing masks, all staff wearing masks and face shields, social distancing of at least three feet, and we will continue to work to limit contact between people. COVID-19 numbers are still not leveling off in our county. We are hopeful with vaccine distribution beginning soon we will see the number of cases dropping off. With that said, I am asking you and your family to be VERY mindful during the holiday break to avoid large gatherings of people to limit the spread of COVID-19. We all must do our part to get our students back to in-person learning, I'm concerned our holiday plans will lead to a spike in COVID-19 cases when we are trying to get kids back to school.

These plans are subject to change at this point so you can expect to receive more communication from me following the holiday break.

Happy Holidays!

ANDREW M. ALMOS
Superintendent, East Central Public Schools
phone 320-245-6001 | twitter @almosandrew
[email protected] | www.eastcentral.k12.mn.us

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