Minnesota Education Commissioner Mary Cathryn Ricker outlined the health parameters for summer hybrid learning, in her June 2, 2020 Advisory Committee call. She directed this should provide “insight into what we are thinking schools must do in a hybrid model for the fall.”
Key Parameters
- Keep social distancing of at least 6’ 1:9 staff to student. If you cannot do that safely in a space, you must reduce the number.
- Refrain from mixing up groups of students. Limit the number of times they are intermixed. School needs to limit intermixing, not the traditional secondary model
- Have backup plan for staffing should staff become ill. Including paraprofessionals.
- Increase the number of outdoors activities and have participants spread out whenever possible
- Reduce the number of students on busses. Even in a hybrid model. You will need to figure out the number of busses, routes, and scheduling.
- Address masking needs as well, the need to not touching eyes, nose, face, and wash cloth masks.
- Set protocols and instruct students and staff on washing hands.
- Keep sick kids at home
- Routine cleaning and disinfecting at least daily. All door knobs, handrails, desks, chairs. Light switches, shared toys or manipulatives, any shared telephone, shared keyboards and mouse, bus seats and handrails
- Need to educate staff and students on all of these.
This is describing outcomes and operational procedures. MDE has not provided details or guidance on how school districts develop such a system. MREA will release guides for implementation.
