South Washington County Schools Aim For In-Person Class March 18

WOODBURY, MN—Grades 6-12 in South Washington County Schools, which are currently in a hybrid-learning model, will return to in-person classes beginning March 18, Superintendent Julie Nielson announced Thursday.

The plan falls under new guidance from the Minnesota Department of Education, Nielsen said.

Students enrolled in the district’s Virtual Learning Academy will remain in it for the remainder of the trimester, the district added in a news release.

Students will attend classes in person Monday through Thursday and use Fridays as a “flexible instruction day” to learn from home. School days will also be shortened to allow teachers to divide their time between in-person class and the Virtual Learning Academy, Nielsen said.

The district will also put the following new safety measures in place.

• Students and family members should get tested for COVID-19 every two weeks, the district recommended.
• Students must remain 3 feet from each other.
• Seating in the cafeteria will be documented daily. Some students may be assigned to eat in classrooms.
• Face masks will be required indoors.
• Students who come to school sick will immediately be sent home.
• If students or staff come into contact with an infected person, they may be directed to quarantine for 14 days.
• Student support programs may pull students from class with as much social distancing as possible.
• When possible, teachers will wear both face masks and face shields.

Nielsen asked that parents be prepared for the possibility that a student’s class could move online at any time if the class is exposed to COVID-19.