ELY – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz revealed a plan last Thursday for all state school districts to approach the 2020-21 school year, using the prevalence of new coronavirus cases in each county as a starting point for school leaders as they consider a broad range of factors to determine which models of instruction they’ll employ this fall.
With those marching orders in hand, ISD 696 officials issued a statement later that evening to update district families on how the district’s administration team is preparing for school this fall. Details will be released at the Aug. 10 Ely school board meeting.
The district’s administration team said, “Gov. Tim Walz and Education Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker, in consultation with Commissioner Malcolm and the Minnesota Department of Health, have announced that all Minnesota public schools must adhere to parameters determined by MDH in implementing or shifting between the three learning models laid out in the 2020-21 school year planning guidance: in-person learning, hybrid learning, and distance learning. 
“To begin the 2020-21 school year, MDH has developed parameters using county public health data to support the determination of learning models for each school district and charter school. A localized, data-driven approach to the 2020-21 school year will put student and staff safety first.
“Experts at the Departments of Health and Education will partner with local school districts and charter schools to help determine which learning model they should use to start the school year. While there are many factors to take into consideration before opening our schools, the decision-making process will center on local data indicating the prevalence of COVID-19 in the surrounding county.
“Throughout the school year, we will need to be flexible and adapt to the fluid nature of this pandemic. The Departments of Education and Health will work with school districts and local health professionals to consistently track the virus to determine if and when a school may need to adjust our learning plan. School districts and charter schools will be required to ensure all families have the option to choose distance learning for their students, no matter where they live.
“As our school leaders review the new guidance from the Department of Education and Health, the Ely Public School District will have more information about what the three models will look like in our schools after Aug. 10.
“These plans will be communicated to families via email and posted on the Ely Public School website. We will then be asking families and staff to self-identify their health risks related to COVID so that we can accurately and effectively create learning plans for all students.
“Our district will continue to carefully consider the needs of students in a variety of areas, including students receiving special education services, mental health services, students experiencing homelessness, and students who rely on meals served at school. We will continue to keep you informed as we navigate COVID-19.”
According to data from the Minnesota Department of Health, the 14-day rolling average of new cases for St. Louis County was low enough as of last Friday for ISD 696 leaders to include a return to full in-class attendance as an option, although other issues related to physical facilities, staffing, transportation, and more must be considered to determine if a more restrictive approach is more appropriate. Health department figures also showed the county 14-day rolling average has been steadily increasing since June.
Walz’s announcement came on the same day President Donald Trump re-emphasized his call for schools to fully re-open, continuing to maintain that the risk to children is minor.
“Young people are almost immune to this (COVID-19) disease,” Trump claimed. “If you look at the percentage, it’s a tiny percent of one percent. It’s a tiny percent of one percent. So, we have to have our schools open. We have to protect our teachers. We have to protect our elderly. But we do have to have our schools open.”