ELY – Memorial school students were back in the classroom starting Monday, as they transitioned from hybrid learning to in-person learning. The adjustment was recommended by the ISD 696 administration team and agreed to by the Ely Safe Learning Plan Advisory Council (ESLPAC) late last week.
Superintendent Erik Erie cited a continued drop in the Northern St. Louis County dashboard data that indicated a descending trend in reported positive cases of the coronavirus in the region as a determining factor in opening school again.
“The data went down last week to 17.3 (per 10,000 people), and is now below 20 which is one of our markers in the Restart Blueprint of our safe learning plan,” he said. The positive case trend dropped from 24.8 three weeks ago and 20.4 two weeks ago.
Memorial students, grades 6-12, have been in a hybrid learning scenario since mid-November. Washington students, grades K-5, have been in the in-person learning protocol since mid-January.
The ESLPAC meetings, held on Thursdays at 3 p.m., can be observed by the public and the agenda notes and meeting link can be found on the Ely School District Facebook page.
All schools throughout St. Louis County, including Duluth, are experiencing downward trends in reported positive cases, Erie said.
“The other great news is that our ZIP code cumulative data has stayed the same for the last two weeks,” he said. “We feel fortunate that we are able to return to in-person learning while many other schools in our region, and certainly the state, have not yet moved to full in-person learning.  We plan to continue robust mitigation protocols, including daily temperature checks for students and employees, along with strict adherence to face coverings while we continue to combat this pandemic.”
The original Restart Blueprint called for hybrid learning for all students if the positive data dashboard was between 10 and 19 positive cases per 10,000 people. The measure is one of several indicators that are used in determining appropriate learning models.
Megan Anderson, 6-12 principal, said that at a consultation meeting earlier this week, the regional support team, including the Minnesota Health Department, Minnesota Department of Education, and St. Louis County Department of Health, predicted the county-wide drop in positive COVID-19 case rate data.
“In looking at our local case rate data and other factors, they did give us the green light to move ahead and bring students back into the building,” she said. “We really looked forward to having all the kiddos back in the building for the first time since the middle of September. The kids were super-excited to see each other and to get back into a regular school routine.”
Anderson said several students this week transitioned from the distance-learning list to in-school learning.
“A couple of new sixth-graders joined us in school, and it was the first time I ever laid eyes on them in our building,” she said. “It was good to finally meet them in person.”
The principal noted that Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday will be regular 8:05 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. class days, and the school district will continue with early dismissal at noon on Wednesdays.
“The regular bus runs will occur at noon on Wednesdays, with Memorial students having the option to pick up a bag lunch on their way home,” Anderson said.
Erie continued, “Not having all of our students in school has been a difficult time for families and our entire school community. I want to thank our students, parents, teachers, support staff and the Ely community for all that has been done to cope with the challenges the pandemic has brought upon us.  It is my sincere hope we are able to continue with in-person learning, have people vaccinated, and limit the spread of COVID-19, until we are able to realize a sense of normalcy that we all seem to crave.”
Most of the Chromebook laptop computers have arrived and district officials started to roll them out in the fifth and eighth grades, according to Erie.
“We expect to distribute Chromebooks to all second through twelfth-grade students in the next few weeks. Thanks to our Technology Team of Jim Robbins, John Keranen, and Madeline Olson for the their diligent efforts in getting these Chromebooks into the hands of our students,” he said.
The Ely school board, while not required to approve the learning plan transition, was advised of the move at their monthly board meeting on Monday night.
Board chair Ray Marsnik asked if students are wearing masks on campus at all times of the school day.
“Do you see them not wearing masks if they are not directly supervised?” he asked.
“Overall, it has been very good,” Anderson replied. “Like with anything else, kids need to be reminded sometimes. I think they know that is what keeps everyone safe and in school.”
Marsnik added, “It is good news that our entire student body is now back to in-person learning, and according to our health and medical experts, mask-wearing is very important, and I’m sure they would like to see us continue to be in-person for the remainder of the year.”