Richfield Schools Open Transportation Poll For Parents, Guardians

RICHFIELD, MN — Richfield Public Schools have published a poll for parents and guardians in the district as officials plan for multiple scenarios this fall. The Minnesota Department of Education is urging school leaders to plan for three scenarios so that school communities can be flexible and students can receive continuous education amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"In the event that students return to the classroom, one of the biggest challenges we will face is bussing," said Superintendent Steven Unowsky in a news release.

"Based on current CDC guidelines, to safely transport students on a school bus with social distancing (one student per row), we can fit approximately 13 students on a bus at one time. That means that schools would need multiple rounds of bussing to transport every child to school safely, which is simply not feasible."

The district has opened up a poll with the following question:

"If Minnesota Department of Education reopens schools and your child/children would normally take the school bus, how likely are you to use the school bus in 2020-21?"

You can fill out the poll here.

The three scenarios state officials want schools to plan for are:

• In-person learning for all students
• Hybrid learning with strict social distance and capacity limits
• Distance learning only

Health and education officials will announce a decision for which model of educational delivery will be in the best for the 2020-21 school year by the week of July 27.