Fall Planning Update — August 3, 2020 Dear WPS Families and Staff,
I am reaching out to provide you with additional information regarding our planning for the 2020-21 school year. First, let me say how appreciative I am for your patience and understanding during these most challenging of circumstances. Second, I want to thank those of you who have offered feedback during recent weeks and months.
Your insights have been helpful as we continue to move forward in our planning. Many have requested another opportunity to provide fresh input as opinions and perspectives may have changed since offering their initial feedback. We will be providing you with an opportunity to provide additional feedback this week.
As you know, last Thursday Governor Walz and the Minnesota Departments of Education and Health provided additional fall planning guidance for school districts across the state in the Safe Learning Plan for 2020-21.
Some of the main points of the state's back-to-school recommendations include:
The learning model parameters are aligned to the number of cases per 10,000 residents for the county within which the school district is located. These parameters are defined in the state's Safe Learning Plan for 2020-21 and are as follows:
The current number of cases per 10,000 residents in Hennepin County is 20.93, which means if we opened schools today, the learning model for schools within Hennepin County would be #3 above; hybrid learning for all students. We will need to continuously monitor the infection rate and be ready to consider changing plans as needed and in a manner consistent with the guidance from the Minnesota Departments of Health and Education.
During recent weeks and months, we have been planning for the possibility of implementing these learning scenarios. The additional direction provided by the Governor has allowed us to move forward in our planning to the point where we will be presenting an initial recommendation to the Wayzata School Board for consideration at a work session on Thursday, August 6 at 4 p.m. A link to the Zoom meeting can be found on our online District Calendar.
This initial plan will be sent to all families and staff when the work session starts. You will have an opportunity to provide feedback through a survey that will be open through August 8 at noon. The Board will take action on the initial recommendation at its August 10 regular meeting at 7 p.m.
The initial plan that we send on August 6 at 4 p.m. will include:
We understand how difficult the uncertainty caused by the pandemic has been for our families and staff members. We remain committed to doing our very best, despite these challenges, to meet the learning needs of each and every one of our students. Again, many thanks for your support, patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Chace B. Anderson Superintendent |