(KWNO)- Gov. Tim Walz rolled out a plan Wednesday that would have school districts across Minnesota offering some form of in-person learning by March 8.
Middle and high school students could return to their respective buildings as soon as Feb. 22, the governor announced. Districts must follow an updated list of safety protocols.
State leaders are encouraging students and families who are opting for hybrid or in-person learning to get tested for COVID-19 every two weeks regardless if they have been exposed to the virus or are experiencing symptoms. The state is also dropping the requirement that districts phase in students returning to in-person learning.
“The sacrifices you made saved lives,” said Walz. “The sacrifices you made kept us underneath where we could’ve been and the sacrifices you made make sure more people are going to go back to school, they’re going to stay in school and we’re going to open our businesses and keep them open.”
The new guidelines follow updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, which suggest school districts use local case counts and test positivity rates to determine their learning models. The new state guidelines say school districts should consider rolling back in-person learning if 5% of the staff and student body are out with COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms.
Earlier this year, the state released guidance for districts to bring younger learners back to in-person instruction. Grades k-5 are receiving full in-person instruction and grades 6-12 are in a hybrid model at Winona Area Public Schools (WAPS).
WAPS Communication Coordinator John Casper told KWNO this week WAPS has had zero COVID-19 cases since their learning model change and said the middle and high school could go to a less restrictive model by late April.
Walz says Minnesota’s case growth is the lowest since the summer. “This news is positive. We are beating this thing. Minnesotans are responding accordingly and it’s showing,” Walz said.
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