Dear Mounds View Public Schools community,

As we shared last week, the number of positive COVID-19 cases is significantly increasing in Ramsey County. Yesterday's report showed there are 49.95 cases per 10,000 county residents, and next week’s report is expected to far exceed this count. Locally, the number of staff and students who have tested positive or have had to quarantine has just about doubled since last week. As a result, our ability to provide appropriate staffing and a consistent learning experience is proving to be extremely challenging. While we have been able to manage these issues in the short term, they can not be sustained given the rising number of people being impacted.

Today we met with our regional support team and received a recommendation to move our middle school and elementary students to a distance learning model. This recommendation reflects the common guidance school districts are receiving from public health officials as the spread of COVID-19 continues at a rapid pace throughout our communities. Here is a schedule as we move forward.

• Middle School students will attend school next week according to their Group 1 (Monday) or Group 2 (Tuesday) cohorts and will have non-school days on Wednesday/Thursday, November 18/19. Distance learning will begin Friday, November 20.
  
  
• Elementary school students will attend school next week according to their Group 1 (Monday/Wednesday) or Group 2 (Tuesday/Thursday) cohorts. Friday, November 20, and Monday, November 30, will be non-school days. Distance learning will begin Tuesday, December 1.
  

November 23-27 will remain non-school days for all students, as previously scheduled. View a calendar here.

As much as we would like to return students to our schools, families should not expect a rapid transition back to blended learning. Distance learning will be in place until the case numbers decrease to a safer level and the District receives permission to safely reopen schools using the blended learning model. Be assured that we will continue to meet with our regional support team to determine any changes to our learning model, and we will provide advance notice of future changes.

In the coming days, teachers and staff will begin preparing students and families for the upcoming transitions. This may include sending home items with students or reminding them to bring certain items back-and-forth from home to school regularly that they may need for distance learning. More details will be shared with you by teachers, principals and program managers.

We share your disappointment in having to navigate this challenging situation, and we recognize the sacrifices this shift will prompt. The health and safety of our students, families and staff remains our top priority, and we look forward to a time when students can return to our schools.

Be well,

Chris Lennox

Superintendent