COVID-19: Planning for 2020-21 school year underway
(06/25/2020) As planning for the 2020-21 school year gets underway, guidance shared June 18 by the State of Minnesota provided some direction for decision making. School districts, including Anoka-Hennepin, are developing contingency plans based on three scenarios constructed by state agencies: fully in-person, hybrid and fully distance learning. Anoka-Hennepin has formed a 29-member cross-functional leadership team to coordinate planning and preparation in advance of further direction.
The state agencies and leadership, not the school board, superintendent or principal, will determine which of the three formats will be used for school in the fall. Anoka-Hennepin will be prepared for that decision, which is expected the week of July 27. The district will share additional information on how the chosen format impacts Anoka-Hennepin students and families as soon as possible after that date, likely within five days. It’s acknowledged that everyone would like information sooner, and your patience and understanding is appreciated as district leaders prepare plans to ensure students and staff remain safe and that students receive the highest quality education available. The following further explains the three planning scenarios constructed by the state:
Scenario 1: In-person learning for all students. In this planning scenario, schools should create as much space between students and teachers as is feasible during the day, but will not be held strictly to enforcing 6 feet of social distancing during primary instructional time in the classroom. Activities and extracurricular programming should continue to follow the Guidance for Social Distancing in Youth Sports.
Scenario 2: Hybrid model with strict social distancing and capacity limits. In this planning scenario, schools must limit the overall number of people in school facilities and on transportation vehicles to 50% maximum occupancy. Sufficient social distancing with at least 6 feet between people must occur at all times.
Scenario 3: Distance learning only. Students receive instruction off-school sites, but schools may also be open to provide emergency child care or other functions. It’s likely that the format of Distance Learning will be modified with improvements from what has been learned from the spring.
Anoka-Hennepin parents and guardians will have a choice in planning decisions regarding their child’s return to school settings, depending on the format selected. The district will need data on the number of students who plan to attend school to assist with logistics such as transportation, food service and ensuring physical distancing requirements.
If you have not yet taken the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Distance learning survey, please follow this link. The survey will close on June 30. Your input will help them and us!
Please consult our ahschools.us/covid-19 website as a resource and stay tuned for additional Anoka-Hennepin communications regarding the return to school in the weeks and months to come. Please send any questions or concerns to health@ahschools.us.