Dear River Grove Families,
Once again, we thank you for your continued patience and support throughout this difficult time.
In response to Governor Walz and the Minnesota Department of Education’s recent updated guidance to the Safe Learning Plan, the River Grove Board of Directors met last night to discuss a potential change to the school’s learning model. The Board voted in favor of returning to an on-campus model, with the following details:
Highlights
River Grove will continue to offer two models of instruction:
- Distance Learning: This model continues to be all on-line
- On-Campus: 4 days per week on campus (M-Th); Fridays at home on-line
- This replaces the previous Hybrid Model
The Hybrid Model (every-other-day) will no longer be offered. All of those families who were in the Hybrid Model before Thanksgiving will move to the 4-day On-Campus Model (unless you complete the Learning Model Change Form). See Additional Notes and Explanations, below, for more information.
Timeline
- Wednesday to Friday, February 3 to 5: Teacher prep for model change and grading day (no school, no distance learning; childcare WILL be provided)
- Monday, February 8: Grades K-2 return to on-campus
- Monday, February 22: Grades 3-6 return to on-campus
- Important Notes:
- Weekly Schedule: 4 days per week (M-Th) on-campus, Fridays on-line learning at home for all students
- School Hours: 8:30am to 3:00pm
- Distance Learning model will continue to be provided for those who prefer/require
- On-campus model at least until Thursday, March 25
- After Spring Break (Monday, April 5), possible move to 5 days per week on-campus (pending COVID situation, MDE/MDH requirements and recommendations, and Board approval)
Additional Notes and Explanations
WHICH LEARNING MODELS WILL BE OFFERED?
- River Grove will continue to offer two models of instruction:
- Distance Learning: This model continues to be all on-line
- On-Campus: 4 days per week on campus (M-Th); Fridays at home on-line
- This replaces the previous Hybrid Model
WHY FEBRUARY 8 FOR K-2 AND FEBRUARY 22 FOR 3-6?
- Responding to thoughtful and comprehensive feedback from teachers, staff, and parents, the Board voted to return to an on-campus model starting Monday, February 8 for grades K-2.
- The Minnesota Department of Education’s recently updated guidelines direct schools to “implement a rolling start process in which students will gradually be brought back in the building,” adding that “no more than three additional grades bands can be introduced into the building in a two-week time period when implementing an in-person learning model for the entire school building.” Therefore, grades 3-6 will return to campus on Monday, February 22.
- These dates will allow River Grove adequate time to:
- Thoroughly plan staffing needs (including hiring and orientation of additional personnel because, as a small school, River Grove does not have a large substitute staff pool from which to draw to cover probable quarantines);
- Ramp up food service;
- Rework and combine our transportation routes;
- Prepare each classroom to accommodate more students according to MDH/MDE recommendations and requirements.
- A significant renovation of our Commons building is underway, and we hope that the work will be nearer to completion by February 8.
- With the vaccine edging closer and closer, a February 8 return-to-school date is in the interest of teachers, staff, and families.
- While the school knows that our students are incredibly eager to return to campus — and the school is eager to have them back — the Board believes the February 8 date was the best way to balance the operational challenges the return to campus presents along with the desires of our teaching staff to have a smooth transition for our young learners.
WHY 4 DAYS ON CAMPUS?
- A 4-day week on campus with on-line Fridays will allow teachers to connect with and accommodate students who are in quarantine due to strict COVID protocols.
- Schools are still required to maintain routine environmental cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces in classrooms and common spaces when students and teachers are not occupying the space. On-line Fridays will better enable us to complete these tasks.
- A significant consideration for the Board was to try to maintain as much consistency as possible going forward for both families and teachers. The administration and Board preferred increased on-campus days on February 8 rather than the disruptive transitions of hybrid, to increased days, then to fully in person. A 4-day on-campus model will bridge the gap until COVID conditions allow us to return to 5 days on campus.
WILL TRANSPORTATION BE PROVIDED?
- At this time, transportation on school buses continues to be limited to 50 percent capacity. This means we will ask our families to continue providing transportation if possible. Please contact us if your needs have changed.
CAN WE STILL SWITCH MODELS AT THIS TIME?
- Because we want to be responsive to the needs of our families, we will still accept requests to switch models. The Learning Model Change Request Form is still available. CHANGE REQUESTS ARE DUE MONDAY, JANUARY 18.
IF WE SWITCH MODELS, WILL OUR TEACHERS CHANGE?
- Most likely yes. If your family switches models, it is very likely that your teacher will also switch. In other words, if your model was Hybrid before Thanksgiving and you switch to Distance Learning, your teacher will likely switch to the current dedicated Distance Learning teacher. If your model was Distance Learning before Thanksgiving and you switch to on-campus, your teacher will likely switch to the grade level on-campus teacher.
- A sizable number of families switching to another learning model may require River Grove to hire and/or restructure teaching and/or paraprofessional staff.
WILL THERE BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SWITCH MODELS?
- The 4-day on-campus model will be in effect at least until Thursday, March 25. After Spring Break (Monday, April 5), it is possible that the school will move to 5 days per week on-campus (pending COVID situation, MDE/MDH requirements and recommendations, and Board approval).
- We hope to offer another choice for families to switch models, but at this time cannot guarantee a model switch opportunity due to staffing constraints.
HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?
In order to adequately support our students and teachers and continue adhering to required COVID protocols, we need to hire additional paraprofessional and substitute teaching staff! These are paid positions. Please contact Drew Goodson : dgoodson@marineareaschool.org.
Again — thank you for your continued patience and kind words of support as we thoughtfully consider all perspectives and navigate this challenging situation together.
The River Grove Team