Minneapolis prepares for a partial return to school
By David Pierini staff reporter
Elementary school students in Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) could return to in-person learning next month nearly a year after a global pandemic shuttered buildings and forced teachers to conduct classes online.
But many teachers and some parents are asking administrators not to rush the return to in-person learning while COVID-19 continues its deadly spread. They say the district has shared little about staff and building readiness to combat transmission risk and are urging administrators to wait until vaccines are more widely available.
MPS Superintendent Ed Graff presented a detailed plan before the Board of Directors Tuesday night in hopes of quelling anxiety and winning board approval at a special meeting on Jan. 19.
Lucy Laney principal Lisa Pawelak with a student last winter before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Photo by David Pierini
Graff said several students, especially in communities of color, have struggled with distance learning. Administrators have tracked significant declines in math and reading performance and daily attendance for the last quarter was down 19 percent.
“Many of our youngest learners are suffering and we know what the long-term consequences for them are if we don’t give families an option to choose an in-person experience,” Graff said. “Is this 100 percent safe? No, but I can tell you with 100 percent certainty that many of our students are worse off without this option.”
The plan calls for a gradual return with preschoolers and kindergarteners starting Feb. 8, first- and second-graders two days later and grades 3-5 on Feb. 22. Families can opt to continue distance learning but must notify the district by Jan. 22.
Grades 6-12 will continue their classes remotely.
Graff said administrators have seen significant decline in math and reading performance and daily attendance for the last quarter was down 19 percent.
“Our members are the ones next to our families who are closest to the students,” said Greta Callahan, a kindergarten teacher at Bethune Community School and president of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers. “We should be co-creators in all of the work we implement, but we continue to be shut out, ignored and silenced. We are ready and willing to return to in-person safely and that means we need agreements in place with MPS in order to make this happen.”
Graff said the district has had bi-weekly discussion with union members since December and are working with staff to ready buildings.
While the superintendent could not offer a guaranteed safe plan, its details paint a picture of rules, procedures and tracking methods to bring about the best safety possible.
According to the plan, all will be required to wear face masks and practice social distancing. Teachers and staff will have other protective gear, including face shields and plexiglas barrier. Buildings are getting upgrades in air filtration and ventilation students will be spread out throughout the building, even for lunch, to enforce social distancing. Buses will operate but carry fewer students to enforce distancing.
Buildings will have a COVID program coordinator and each site will have saliva testing available. Graff said an epidemiologist has been assigned to work with MPS for quick test results. Attendance taking and building sign-in will be critical should there be a need for contact tracing.
The district has also hired 16 new mental health workers to provide emotional and culturally appropriate support.
Families who opt to have their kids stay home may get assigned a new teacher from a group who have requested to continue to teach remotely.