Some area districts, including Willmar, will make their school opening decisions later this month - West Central Tribune

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For districts like Willmar, New London-Spicer and Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, the number of new cases in Kandiyohi County has a bearing on how they reopen.

While schools in other counties have already made their decisions or may in the next week, these three districts and a few others are waiting a little longer to make their announcements.

—— Related stories published Aug. 4 and Aug. 5. ——

The state has set guidelines for the type of instruction schools offer based on the number of new COVID-19 cases per 10,000 people over a two-week period.

In Kandiyohi County the latest rate is 9.85, nearing the 10-case cutoff between holding in-person school or using hybrid instruction for secondary students. A week ago, Kandiyohi County’s number was nearly 12. The county's rate is higher than some others in the area.

The Minnesota Department of Health releases the latest county rate each Thursday. As the rate goes higher, the state’s recommendations become more restrictive. Districts also may take other variables into account, in consultation with local public health departments.

Jeff Holm, Willmar SuperintendentWest Central Tribune

Holm said the Willmar School Board will discuss reopening Monday, and he will meet with county public health officials next week. A decision will come after that.

In the past week he surveyed staff and parents about returning to school. The state requires districts to accommodate staff and students who choose to work or study from home.

NLS Superintendent Bill Adams said his district would use the Aug. 20 case report to determine how to start school. The district begins classes Aug. 31.

Bill AdamsWest Central Tribune

“It’s going to be fluid throughout this year,” Adams said. “We all want our students back in our buildings, we all want everything back to normal, we all yearn for that, but in reality that’s not available right now.”

ACGC will use the Aug. 20 case report, said Superintendent Nels Onstad, and a decision will be made after an Aug. 24 board meeting.

Nels OnstadWest Central Tribune

If school had started this past week, ACGC would have opened with in-person classes, Onstad said.

“We want people to know they’ll have to remain flexible,” he said, and his staff is planning for making the move from one instruction style to another.

Onstad said schools are still trying to work out the logistics of transportation and food service, which will also change with instruction models. “It’s more complicated than people think,” he said.

Holm said an outbreak in a building could lead to different models in different buildings.

“We are certainly conscious and aware of the stress it puts on families and our staff,” Holm said.

Willmar used some of its federal coronavirus funding to purchase iPads for all elementary students, an effort to ease a possible transition to distance learning. The district will have an iPad for each student in the district.

Willmar, with 4,300 students, is also planning to use an app that allows staff and students to pre-screen at home to learn if it’s OK for them to head to school. The app can warn of an uptick in symptoms and aid in contact tracing, too, Holm said.

Adams said he was glad to learn last week that the state will provide some protective face coverings for students and some staff. He has ordered face shields for staff not receiving the state equipment and for children who won’t be able to tolerate a mask.

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Some area districts, including Willmar, will make their school opening decisions later this month - West Central Tribune
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