Learning Model Update – December 16, 2020 Dear WPS Families and Staff,
We have been working diligently in the past weeks to determine how we can begin to bring students back into our schools after winter break in a way that keeps everyone as safe as possible.
Bringing back our youngest learners In alignment with the additional guidance received from Governor Walz today, our current planning is focused on bringing back our PreK-5 learners, who would benefit the most from in-person instruction.
How will our middle schools and high school be affected? The guidance in the most recent Safe Learning Plan from the Minnesota Department of Education has not changed for middle and high schools.
The timeline for secondary learning model adjustments will depend upon local conditions and the district's ability to maintain effective health protocols to ensure a safe learning and work environment for all students and staff. Further information about semester 2, which begins on February 1, will be communicated with families at a later date. This will include providing elementary families an additional opportunity to consider changing their semester 2 learning model selection.
In addition, we will begin bringing back small groups of special education, English Learner and other students who may need additional support on January 4. Again, specific plans are being created that will be reflective of the Governor's latest guidance, but have not been finalized at this time.
We are working hard to refine and share details with all staff and families as soon as possible. While we have been working on the details for a move like this for some time, the new directions shared by the Governor today were necessary for us to further develop these plans.
As always, we greatly appreciate your patience as our planning continues. We remain very grateful for your support and partnership as we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel to get us to the other side of this pandemic.
Stay well,
Chace B. Anderson Superintendent |