Stillwater School Closing For 2 Weeks Amid Coronavirus Spread

STILLWATER, MN — Stonebridge Elementary School in Stillwater closed on Tuesday for a two-week period following a coronavirus outbreak that left several students and staff members in quarantine.

Stillwater Schools Superintendent Malinda Lansfeldt sent a letter to students and their families alerting them to the temporary closure. According to the letter, the closure applies to students between preschool and 2nd grade, who were already attending in-person learning, along with students in grades 3 through 5, who were set to return on Wednesday.

The school said students will learn virtually until they return to classrooms on Feb. 22, if cases allow for a reopening at that time.

"This is the first time we’ve had to call an emergency transition to distance learning due to community spread or outbreak in one of our school communities," Lansfeldt wrote in the letter. "By closing Stonebridge for two weeks, anyone who is currently ill will have time to recover and anyone who is asymptomatic will get through an incubation period so as not to continue the spread. As much as we want to keep our students in school, this is an important step to slow the virus and keep everyone safe.

Lansfeldt implored families to continue reporting COVID-19 symptoms, along with positive cases of the virus, to the school health office by calling 651-351-8707 or emailing kapfers@stillwaterschools.org.

"We recognize that this is a very difficult situation for families and we apologize for the short notice," the letter reads. "We remain committed to providing a high quality learning environment to our students and are here to support your family at this time. Lessons will be posted in SeeSaw throughout the distance learning period. Please reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns."

Twin Cities Pioneer Press reported that as of Monday, four cases of the COVID-19 virus had been identified in the school and more than 90 students and staffers were in quarantine.