COVID-19 Response Plan

The district encourages students, staff members and volunteers to begin the following measures to avoid contracting COVID-19 and avoiding the spread of it if they unknowingly have it:

• Washing hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds, and use your arm or paper towel to turn off the faucet.

• Cough into your arm/elbow or facial tissue rather than using your hand.

• Staying home when sick.

• Avoiding touching their face with unwashed hands.

• Hand-shakes and touching of each other should be discouraged.

• Touching uncleaned objects (like door handles and faucet handles) with clean hands should become an issue of awareness.

• Accessing sanitizers and wipes available in classrooms should be encouraged.

• Staff are encouraged to wear face masks while in the buildings.

• Limit visitors/volunteers in each of the buildings. If they are allowed in the building, they would be encouraged to wear a mask.

Additionally, the district will take additional steps to help prevent the spread of the virus:

• District facilities staff is following state, federal, and industry guidance regarding cleaning of facilities and frequently touched surfaces to help stop the propagation of COVID-19.

• All students have watched videos that demonstrate good hand washing techniques and hand washing is being encouraged by teachers and other staff.

• An employee daily health screen is required for each staff member in the building.

• Parents will be asked to complete a Skyward symptom and exposure screening for their student(s) daily before sending them to school.

• Minnesota Department of Health Coronavirus Disease 2020

Monitoring the health condition of students, employees and family members

• The district will closely monitor the health conditions of students and employees while they are in school in order to detect any potential for the presence of an infectious illness, including COVID-19.

• The district is also asking parents to work with them to help prevent any spread of COVID-19 if it comes to our community. The district requests the immediate notification of any family member who exhibits any serious symptoms that could impact students or staff members.

• However, the MDH has a primary responsibility for the overall monitoring of Minnesota residents who may be exposed to COVID-19, and they would inform the district of steps they expect the district to implement.

Monitoring the exposure of students, employees and family members to COVID-19

• The district cannot possibly know the interactions of students, employees or family members outside of school; however there would be an immediate effort to identify social interactions of any infected persons related to our schools.

• The school district is monitoring the incidence of COVID-19 in our county and seeking the advice of local public health experts to help monitor the amount of transmission in our community.

Identification of COVID-19 presence in a student, employee or family member

• The district will work with the Regional Response Team whenever a student or staff member is confirmed to have COVID-19.  

• In the event that the presence of COVID-19 in either a student, employee or volunteer is first discovered at school, the district will need to take immediate control of the situation until the MDH can intervene and take appropriate actions.

• The district has protocols in place if a case of COVID-19 is discovered at school including immediate isolation of the person involved, communication with the Regional Response Team,  and communication to families and staff who are affected. 

Travel out of the area or travel out of the country

• Refer to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for travel guidelines.

• The decision to change learning models between Distance Learning, Modified Hybrid Learning, Full Hybrid Learning, or On-Site Learning would be made through consultation with local public health officials, with consideration to county-level data, local transmission rates, and the availability of staff.  

• When viral activity increases, the District will analyze the county-level data to determine if a different learning model should be implemented. The District will notify the Commissioner of Education via the Learning Model Portal within 24 hours of beginning a new learning model. Superintendent Dr. Renee Corneille is responsible for all communications through the Learning Model Portal.

• When viral activity decreases, the District will analyze the county-level data and consult with local public health officials, MDH and MDE through the Regional Support Teams to determine if a different learning model should be implemented.

• After implementing a distance learning model due to high levels of viral transmission in the school or local geographic community, the District will wait a minimum of two to three weeks before bringing students back into the buildings for on-site or hybrid learning.

• Parents, guardians, staff and students will be notified of scheduling changes through SwiftK12.

Providing Education During a School Closure

The District will move to a Distance Learning model if a school or schools are closed due to COVID-19.

All Students

In planning for the coming school year, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has requested school districts to plan for three different scenarios going into the 2020-2021 school year. Those three scenarios include:

• Scenario/Phase 1 (Distance Learning): All students receive instruction through an improved version of distance learning. 

• Scenario/Phase 2 (Modified Hybrid Learning): On-site learning for small groups of identified students on specified days based on student need and staffing considerations. Students with special needs, English Language Learners, our youngest learners may be considered for on-site learning.

•  Scenario/Phase 3 (Full Hybrid Learning): On-site learning for all students on specified days unless their family has opted for Distance Learning only. 

•  Scenario/Phase 4 (On-Site Learning): All students and staff back in school, unless their family has opted for Distance Learning only. 

STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12

Teachers will offer learning with coursework, assessments, and grades for all classes regardless on learning model. The focus will be engaging, collaborative, and personalized learning opportunities as we try to make the best out of this unpredictable situation.

• The amount of time spent on learning activities and assignments will vary depending on the course and grade level. 

  • Wilshire Park - K-1 students and invited students are in in-person from 8:30-12:30 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  Students in Distance learning should expect at a minimum to engage in synchronous and asynchronous learning activities and check-ins between the hours of 2:00 pm -4:00 pm or teacher designated times.

  • Middle School - Students should expect at minimum to engage in synchronous and asynchronous learning activities and check-ins between the hours 10:00 am-2:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. All students are expected to meet with student clubs on Wednesdays as well as receive extra support if needed. 

  • High School - 

    • 9th grade- on average 60 min per course per day

    • 10th-12th grade-on average 90 min per course per day

    • AP/CIS-on average 120 min per course per day

• Assignments, resources, and videos from teachers will be posted by 9:00 am or earlier on Google Classroom, Seesaw, or via email.

• Teachers will be available by email during normal school hours.

• Any modifications and support students have at school will continue to be provided.

Technology:

Support

Technical support will be available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Email: helpdesk@isd282.org

• Call the Technology Help Line: 612-706-1014

• Please include the student's first and last name, grade, and a detailed description of the problem.

• Frequently Asked Questions

The district has been planning for a 1:1 technology initiative over the past few years, prior to COVID-19. This past spring with emergency distance learning, the district received state and federal funding from the Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund that helped jump-start the 1:1 Technology Initiative.  

It was important to provide students and families with the most up-to-date device security, along with improved classroom management and testing tools for teachers and students. 

The district will be providing technology (iPads for grades K-2; Chromebooks for grades 3-12) for every student.

This does not mean that students will be on technology for the entire amount of time, but that they will have a balance of time on digital learning platforms and work on the assignments given without technology.

FAQ and helpful information for connecting a school Chromebook to Wi-Fi.

Information about other discounted internet options may be found here:

allconnect.com/blog/low-income-internet-guide

highspeedinternet.com/resources/are-there-government-programs-to-help-me-get-internet-service

 

Students in Grades K-12

Teachers will offer learning with coursework, assessments, and grades for all classes regardless of learning model. The focus will be engaging, collaborative, and personalized learning opportunities as we try to make the best out of this unpredictable situation.

• Students should plan to spend roughly the same amount of time on lessons, assignments, and class activities as if they were at school.

• Assignments, resources, and videos from teachers will be posted by 9 am (K-12) on Google Classroom, Seesaw, or via email each school day.

• Teachers will be available by email during normal school hours.

• Any modifications and support students have at school will continue to be provided.

Students in Pre-school, ECFE and ECSE

• In the event of a school closure, preschool and ECFE will be closed.

• Take-home bags with early childhood activities are available and will be provided to families during a closure. When the bag is returned, every item will be sanitized and available for other families to check out.

• ISD 282 students who receive Early Childhood Special Education Services (ECSE) through Mounds View Public Schools (MV) will follow the guidance of MV. If ISD 282 schools are closed, transportation will NOT be provided to Mounds View.

Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP's)

Special Education teachers will provide instruction digitally to implement appropriate instructional strategies that comply with IEP’s.

• There are other tools that will be implemented for all students to enable them to receive instruction in the best form possible.

• Questions regarding services should be directed the student's IEP case manager or the Director of Special Education Hope Fagerland at hfagerland@isd282.org.

Village Kids

• If school is closed, Village Kids will be closed, with the exception of Emergency Childcare.

EL services during distance learning

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended our ability to serve meals at no cost to ALL STUDENTS regardless of income through June 30, 2021.  If you will be in distance learning and are interested in receiving school meals, please complete this meal request form.

Below is information on how meals will be served in the four learning models.

• Scenario/Phase 1 (Distance Learning):  Families can put in a request of a week’s worth of food to be dropped including lunch or breakfast AND lunch. Applications received later may not receive a delivery on the first week of distance learning.

• Scenario/Phase 2 & 3 (Hybrid/Modified Hybrid Learning): Students who will be onsite will have access to breakfast and lunch in the building.  Students will eat in the classroom or outside if weather permits. School meals will be available for home delivery on Wednesdays. 

•  Scenario/Phase 4 (On-Site Learning): Students who will be onsite will have access to breakfast and lunch in the building.  Students will eat in the classroom or outside if weather permits.

 

Working During A School Closure

Working conditions for employees may need to be altered, and the respective employees will be informed of plans and any changes that will affect their work and attendance at work.

• The requirements for employees will vary depending upon the nature of school closure.

• If there were a modified plan by the MDH whereby just some students were quarantined, there would be a new plan developed to meet the special conditions of the MDH expectations.

• The district will assure that employees will be paid on time during any emergency. In order to process payroll in a timely manner, enter your absences and submit your timesheet in Skyward every week.

Teachers

• Teachers of students in grades K-12 are expected to be available throughout their normal work day, including time before or after school, as assigned. In addition to the time for delivering instruction through digital learning platforms, teachers need to expect students reaching out to them for assistance with lessons during the normal workday.

• Times for students to contact their teachers with assignment questions will be established by each principal of any schools closed.

• Teachers who need to take time off during any of the e-learning days will need to inform their principal, and alternatives for the students will be determined by the district.

• Special Education teachers will need to work with their students through assistance from the students’ families.

• It is expected that all teachers will assure their readiness to deliver instruction through the use of Google Classroom, email, SeeSaw, and other supplementary learning venues during a crisis due to COVID-19.

• This will require teachers to insure that they have a district device or home computer available at the end of every school day, in case school is closed before the start of school the next day.

• Any teacher who does not have Internet capability at home should inform their principal immediately, so arrangements can be made to provide such access during an emergency.

Support Staff

• Paras and support staff will be assigned different jobs (distribution of materials, technology devices, meals, distance learning support for teachers and students, providing community support and/or other duties) during school closures.

• Every effort will be made to keep our employees and families safe during the pandemic. Please contact Human Resources if you will not be able to work in the building because you and/or your family members have a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 (older adults and/or persons with underlying health conditions).

Office Assistants

• Office assistants will not be expected to perform duties during days that school is not in session during an emergency closure, but there may be an expectation that evolves during the closure by which these staff members will be needed to assist with communications between parents/students and teachers or administrators.

Food Service

• Food service employees are expected to perform their regular assignments due to state mandated continuation of meals for students during school closures. 

• Every effort will be made to keep our employees and families safe during the pandemic. Please contact Human Resources if you will not be able to work in the building because you and/or your family members have a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 (older adults and/or persons with underlying health conditions).

Custodians

• Custodians are expected to perform their normal assignments. Employees will continue to be paid at their normally scheduled hours and rate.

• Every effort will be made to keep our employees and families safe during the pandemic. Please contact Human Resources if you will not be able to work in the building because you and/or your family members have a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 (older adults and/or persons with underlying health conditions).

Principals, Instructional Coaches, Deans, Counselors, Nurses/health aides, School Psychologists, Coordinators and Administrators

• Staff on the teacher contract are expected to be available throughout their normal work day, including time before or after school, as assigned. Principals may assign additional duties during a closure to support students.

• District-wide administrators will report to the District Office, unless they have been quarantined due to contact at schools or events. All will be needed to assist in communications with parents and employees.

• Coordinators are expected to work unless buildings are closed. If the buildings are closed, coordinators may work with their supervisor to determine the possibility of working remotely. If telecommuting is not an option, the staff may use accumulated vacation, personal or compensatory overtime.

Village Kids Staff and Assistant Teachers in ECFE and Preschool

• The first day of a school closure will be paid. Any additional days on which school is canceled, staff will be able to use accumulated personal leave, vacation or compensatory overtime. If staff are called in to work during a closure, they will be paid for the hours worked at their normal rate.

COVID-19 testing coverage - For employees who have health insurance coverage through SANB

Because COVID-19 has risen to the level of a significant public health concern, our health insurance provider will provide coverage at no cost to members for COVID-19 laboratory test regardless of where the test is performed, as well as no cost related to an in-network office or urgent care visit associated with the test. Please note that this will not apply to an emergency department visit.

In addition to the above accommodations, Healthpartners is also allowing members to temporarily refill their medications early should they choose to do so. Please note, this only applies to members who have a current prescription with adequate refills remaining.

Members who are concerned that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 can take a free online screening assessments available online at virtuwell.com or should call their primary care clinic. The assessment follows the latest guidelines from the CDC and other public health officials.

CareLine (612-339-3663 or 800-551-0859) is also available 24/7 at no cost to members. The most updated information for HealthPartners members is availableHealthpartners.com.

Athletic Events, Musical Events, Dramatic Events and Other Major Functions

• St. Anthony Middle School and St. Anthony Village High School co-curriculars will follow Minnesota State High School League, Minnesota Department of Education, and Minnesota Department of Health recommendations for athletics/activities practices and/or competitions.

• Per Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL), summer athletics will be allowed to meet beginning June 15th. Groups will need to follow MDH and MSHSL guidelines. Groups will need to develop a specific implementation plan to address all guidelines.

Community Education Programs

• Some Community Services programs will be offered this summer. Call 612-706-1001 for more information.

• Community Services programs will continue to operate while school is in session.

• In the event of a school closure, all Community Services programs will be canceled.

• Community Services classes will be canceled and instructors will be paid on a prorated basis for the time they taught.

• The District is committed to regular communications with parents and the community during these events.

• A clear and detailed communications plan for the various scenarios related to possible school closings or disruptions has been developed and will be implemented.

• The district has a Google Site dedicated to COVID-19 information and procedures. Please call the information center at 612-706-1001 if you have questions.

• The district will provide timely information at that site, as well as any updates via email, text and phone as needed.

• Parents are encouraged to contact the district with educational questions or rumors about the illness possibly being in St. Anthony-New Brighton.

• Parents who are concerned about the virus itself should contact the MDH hotline at 651-201-3920.

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• Minnesota Department of Health.

• Minnesota Department of Health Coronavirus Disease 2020

• MDH COVID-19 Hotline: 651-201-3920.

• Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource.

• CDC - Managing Stress and Anxiety

• Resources for Families

• Back to School Decision Tool - CDC

• CDC  Isolation vs Quarantine PDF

• CDC When to Quarantine 

• MDH What to do While You Wait for a COVID-19 Test Result

• MN Safe Learning Plan for 2020-21

• MDH 2020-21 Planning Guide for Schools

• MDE Guidance for 2020-21 School Year Planning

COVID-19 SANB Restart Blueprint