Some In-Person Learning Expected at All Minnesota Schools by March 8, Walz Says

(KNSI) – All Minnesota middle and high schools can return to hybrid or in-person learning as soon as February 22nd, according to revised Safe Learning Plan guidelines announced by Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday.

The new guidance notes that all schools that have already announced a reopening plan can continue that plan. However, a rolling start for bringing students back into buildings is no longer necessary. Elementary schools that have not announced a plan to transition back to hybrid or in-person learning can move to those models at any time.

In a press release, Walz said he expects all schools to offer some form of in-person learning by March 8th.

“It’s time for students to be back in the classroom,” Walz said. “We aren’t out of the woods, but our relentless progress with vaccines and Minnesotans’ vigilance has put us closer than ever to the end of this pandemic. Our progress means we can get more students safely back into classrooms. As a parent and former teacher, I know how critical this step is for the economic security, well-being and mental health of our kids and their families.”

Walz’s office cites the significant progress in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout as one reason for the updated guidance, saying almost 25 percent of teachers have been vaccinated. More than 96 percent of public schools and nearly half of nonpublic and tribal schools have opted into a biweekly COVID-19 testing program for staff as well.

“Last week, the CDC provided the roadmap,” Walz said. “The good news is Minnesota’s a lot further down that road than even the CDC was. They ask for things that would be nice to have like testing teachers — we have the most robust [plan] in the nation.”

Parents, students and staff are highly encouraged to get tested for COVID-19 every two weeks.

Adding to the guidelines for returning to in-person learning, the revised Safe Learning Plan establishes a new threshold for transitioning back to a hybrid learning model if necessary. The plan states that if 5 percent of students or staff in a building are absent and sick with COVID-19- or flu-like symptoms, that is an indicator for moving back to hybrid learning.

“It’s not an automatic 5 percent, you move to a different learning model,” said Heather Mueller, deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education. “It means you have to have a conversation with your local public health, your regional support teams and Minnesota Department of Health to identify what that means.”

Mueller specified that school districts can take a “laser-like” approach, moving students in one building with that 5 percent threshold online while keeping students in other, less affected buildings in person.

St. Cloud DFL Rep. Dan Wolgamott responded to Walz’s announcement.

“As the father of an eighth grader at South Junior High, I strongly support Governor Walz’s thoughtful, data-driven approach to getting our students back to school safely,” Wolgamott said. “With case growth being the lowest we’ve seen since last summer, now is a time for cautious optimism as we continue to follow public health guidelines with the light at the end of the tunnel growing brighter every day.”

Most school districts in the St. Cloud area have returned to part- or full-time in-person learning or have outlined plans to do so.

This article was updated to reflect comments made by Deputy Commissioner Mueller and Gov. Walz during a live address Wednesday afternoon, and to include a statement from Rep. Wolgamott.