Sartell St. Stephen School District Bracing Parents for Potential Temporary Switch to Distance Learning

(KNSI) — The Sartell St. Stephen School District is bracing parents for a potential temporary switch to distance learning.

An email sent to parents and obtained by KNSI says, “the school district is preparing for the potential of temporary distance learning to make sure our students, staff, and families have a plan in place if a shift is needed.” This year, a hybrid learning model will not be used, so any shift in learning models would only involve moving to a temporary distance learning model. The email says, “Scenarios for this situation might include one classroom, multiple classrooms, one grade level or school-wide depending on the circumstances.”

Superintendent Jeffrey Ridlehoover says the district is “respectfully” asking families to create a proactive plan if students need to make the shift. The email continues saying the district knows the switch is a “hardship on families and are doing everything possible to keep our kids in school,” but COVID-19 is unpredictable, and they need to have a contingency plan in place.

Starting September 23rd, the ISD 748 COVID-19 dashboard will be updated weekly. District officials say they will update parents “in as timely a manner as possible should a shift need to occur.”

Dr. Ridelhoover thanked parents for keeping kids home when they are sick, as everyone wants to maintain in-person learning and appreciates the help.

See the district’s safe learning plan by clicking here. COVID-19 isolation and quarantine protocol can be found here. The district’s mitigation matrix is available here.

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